Every Woman Should Have
There’s this quote that goes around, and every now and then a girlfriend sends it to me. I know she means well, but I don’t like it as I don’t agree with a lot of the suggestions for what I, as a woman, should have.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
. . .one old love
she can imagine
going back to. . .
and one who reminds
her how far she has come. . .
I have one love, and he is all I need. My old “loves” weren’t loves at all, even though they do remind me how far I’ve come. Polyamory may work for some, but I’ve tried it and it doesn’t work for me.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
…enough money within her
control to move out and
rent a place of her own
even if she never wants
to or needs to. . .
I personally think a woman should be living on her own anyway before she marries a guy, which means she naturally has money under her own control. I never want a guy to control me. Matt and I live as partners.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
..something perfect to wear if
the employer or date of her dreams
wants to see her in an hour. . .
Hell. If someone wants to see me within an hour they better be bleeding or dying. Otherwise, they can wait. I have other things to do besides be at people’s beck and call.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
..a youth she’s content
to leave behind…
We all have a youth. I know this is probably one of those, “Don’t regret not doing something when you’re younger” types of things. I have no regrets about my youth. Matt, on the otherhand, tells me stories of plenty of things he regrets doing in his youth.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
. . .a past juicy enough that
she’s looking forward to
retelling it in her old age. . .
I already enjoy telling people about things I’ve done. But I certainly didn’t do things simply so I can tell people about them. I do them because they’re fun.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
. . .a set of screwdrivers, a
cordless drill, and a black
lace bra. . .
I hate lace. It itches. Might as well be wearing a wool bra. Silk or cotton or nothing at all!
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
. . .one friend who always makes
her laugh… and one who lets
her cry. . .
I make myself laugh. I definitely can make myself cry.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
. . .a good piece of furniture
not previously owned by anyone
else in her family. . .
Yeah, okay, if my mom would stop bequeathing me stuff not previously owned by anyone else in her family, maybe I’d have room.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
. . .eight matching plates, wine
glasses with stems, and a recipe
for a meal that will make her
guests feel honored. . .
I tried having wine glasses with stems. It was a useless venture as my cats promptly knocked them over and spilled grape juice (PURPLE GRAPE JUICE) all over my cream-colored carpet. I don’t cook. I burn.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
. . .a feeling of control over
her destiny. . .
Some things you cannot control. You can do your best to steer yourself in the right direction though by avoiding crappy people and situations. But some people think they have the right to control other people, and in the end, you cannot force people to think about you in certain ways. They either do, or they don’t.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. . .
. . .how to fall in love without
losing herself. . .
That I agree with.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
. . .how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend
without ruining the friendship. . .
And that too.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. . .
. . . when to try harder. . . and
when to walk away. . .
And that.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
. . . that she can’t change the
length of her calves, the width
of her hips, or the nature of her
parents. . .
No, you can change the length of your calves. You can change the width of your hips too. But it’s true you cannot force people to think a certain way.
And everything else, I agree with.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
. . . that her childhood may not
have been perfect. . .but its
over. . .EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. . .
. . .what she would and wouldn’t
do for love or more. . .EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. . .
. .how to live alone. . . even if
she doesn’t like it. . .EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. . .
. . .whom she can trust,
whom she can’t,
and why she shouldn’t
take it personally. . .EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. . .
. . .where to go. . .
be it to her best friend’s kitchen table. . .
or a charming inn in the woods. . .
when her soul needs soothing. . .EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. . .
. . .what she can and can’t
accomplish in a day. . .
a month. . .and a year. . .
Best Wishes for 2004, folks!
Matt and I are going to go partay now!
