Women In Power

I had lunch with a colleague today and I came out of our lunch meeting with the following question in mind:

How did us women become so tough these days?

Story 1: My colleague did long distance with her fiance (she recently got engaged) after 15 years of togetherness and 5 of these years were long distance (2 different time zones; 2 different continents with a major ocean in the middle).  She's 35.

I said to her: [my eye balls as big as volleyballs] How do you possibly do long distance for THAT long?

Her reply: Well, it would be funny if we don't last once we get married.  [Yes, that was her reply.  She's a political theorist...and she's super bright.]  And we might continue to have a long distance marriage if we can't find a way to be in one city.  You know, academic couples are not that easy.  And I never want to be labelled as the "Trailing Wife".
 
I said, "Trailing Wife"?  That's a horribly name!  

Story 2:  My other colleague, just a little bit older than me, came to our university 4 years ago while she was pregnant.  Her husband was still finishing her PhD at the time.  Throughout all these years, she worked, she took care of the kid (she has help from a maid), she did her research.....she did everything.

She's pregnant again, due in June, and she's planned her pregnancy so that she would not need to be taking any maternity leave.  Can you imagine that?  In other words, she'll take her rest during the summer break and return right back to work in September.

I said to my lunch buddy this afternoon: Why are there so many accomplished, strong, and amazing women in our department?  That's just so amazing.

She looked at me and said, "I know, we are all crazy around here. I'm glad you are getting out.  At least you are normal!"

I love her.