One girl’s courage

One girl’s courage

by MichelleMcHatton

Imagine waking every day as a female knowing that your love of reading, math, science, learning…just wanting an education, could get you killed.

I’m grateful for young women like Malala and Kainat who have the courage to stand up for what they believe in.  No girl should have to risk her life because of the desire to learn.

I couldn’t fathom not being able to read a book, attend a seminar or get an education because I’m a female.  Knowing I can do this makes me very proud to be an American.

Other than the Taliban’s warped thinking that females should not be educated, their reasoning for shooting these girls is unclear.  However, I think I may have the answer:  fear.  The Taliban are so fearful that these females will achieve something substantial in their lives, something the Taliban will never do.  Because the Taliban are nothing but a bunch of cowards.  These females will continue on with their educations, and with what they learn, they will outsmart the evilness of the Taliban and make the world a better place.  Not just for females but for everyone.

 

The Longest Way Home

The Longest Way Home

by MichelleMcHatton

I’ve started reading Andrew McCarthy’s book “The Longest Way Home:   One Man’s Quest for the Courage to Settle Down.”.  I haven’t gotten too far into it yet (okay, I’ve only read the dust jacket), but if it’s as well written as some of the travel articles he’s written, I’m sure I’m in for a real treat.

In comment to McCarthy’s statement about Americans being afraid to travel, I have to ask “why shouldn’t we be”?  One minute you’re on a plane flying from Boston to wherever and end up crashed in a skyscraper in Manhattan.  You can hop a train in Switzerland during your vacation and become a bombing victim.

Don’t get me wrong.  Traveling is a great thing.  I love to do it myself.  But it’s become a much higher risk for people today than even 20 years ago.  The world is a much scarier place today than it was back in 1992.  It’s enough taking a risk traveling to work every day, not much to a far off destination somewhere halfway around the world.

Aside from fear, another reason so many Americans, and people in general, may not travel so much anymore is financial.  When the airlines are charging $100.00 a bag, what average American family can afford to fly to Orlando?  With gas prices the way they are, driving there isn’t much cheaper.  And forget international travel.  It’s costly enough to travel within the United States; what average American traveler can afford to fly OUTSIDE the U.S.?

No wonder so many people are opting for “staycations” these days.  Besides, it’s a great way to relax and enjoy reading “The Longest Way Home” and dream of your ideal travel destination.

Rockin’ and rollin’ with Irene

Rockin’ and rollin’ with Irene

by MichelleMcHatton

On top of the looming Hurricane Irene due to hit us probably some time this weekend, Mother Nature decided to throw a new one our way today and gave the east coast a few shakes here and there.  And I didn’t have the opportunity to feel a damn thing.  However, someone I know who works in Marlborough said that the floor he works on (fourth floor) shook for about ten seconds, enough to make coat hangers move and throw a few people off-balance.  Then they got word about the earthquake in VA.

So now we prepare for Irene’s visit.  And when she comes knocking, we’ll be ready….

 

Two tales from true life…

Two tales from true life…

by MichelleMcHatton

1.  One person is driving down a road going in one direction; another car is driving down the same road in the opposite direction; one car slightly crosses the yellow line for a moment, causing the driver of  the other car to veer off the road to avoid hitting them and then that car crashes into a tree.  Driver of the car hitting the tree wants to pin the blame on the car that slightly crossed the yellow line.  Driver of car over yellow line gives all their info to the tree car and even offers to pay for the damages.  Until the tree car driver comes back and says the damages amount to $2,000. 

No police were contacted and driver who hit the tree has no collision coverage.  But driver of the tree car cannot understand why the yellow line car driver can’t be blamed for the car hitting the tree.  Uh, duh.  Learn how to drive.  First rule when you are behind the wheel:  you are to be in control of your vehicle at all times!

2.  Libraries wonder why fewer and fewer people are visiting them.  Today I found out why.  A friend of mine went to get a library card for her 5-year-old and was told that she couldn’t have one because she had to be six!  On top of that my friend was told that she herself couldn’t get a library card because she never returned a book to the library that she took out over 20 years ago!  Hm…sounds like a “Seinfeld” episode…