Thursday, May 11, 2006

Women Who Think

Library Lo sent me the best story yesterday:

One morning on a lake in Idaho, a husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors and begins to read her book. Along comes a game warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, ma'am. What are you doing?"
"Reading a book," she replies (thinking isn't that obvious?).
"You're in a restricted fishing area", he informs her.
"I'm sorry officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."
"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault" says the woman."
"But I have not even touched you," says the game warden.
The woman says, "That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."
"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.
MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It is likely she can also think.

I think women are wonderous creatures and not just because I am one. What a marvel of construction we girls are, soft on the outside and concrete on the inside. The power we yield just by benefit of being women is a thread I see running through all my writing.

I'm of that age that has seen our place in the world go from subserviant to a man at any cost, to the feminist "I can do anything you can do", and back again. Perhaps it's because I've spent most of my life in households occupied predominately by women, or because my family, by blood and marriage, is large, sprawling and fat with 'em, but I thank God every day for making me a girl. The young girls of this generation have so many excellent examples of successful women, a role model on every block. And yet, we still have women suffering through life in abusive relationships, turning to prostitution to make a living, or starving themselves to meet societies image of "perfection". That is why I will always write about strong women, and where that strength comes from.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I have been lucky to have had many,if not most woman in my life to be strong,independent and above average woman. I sometimes run into some that arent and its kind of weird like I just met somone from another planet.