Little accomplishments (which are definitely nothing to be proud of)

"Accomplishment" is likely the wrong word, but since it's late and I'd rather not dictionary.com some new words, we'll say accomplishment. Okay, maybe "experiences" is a better word. Oh crap, now I should change that title. Plus the first sentence. And now the second. And now... oh forget it.

My mundane experience was riding the bus past midnight, and I rarely (well, never) ride the bus alone late at night, but I felt compelled to garner some independence (that and no one was available to give me a ride nor could I catch a taxi). I guess this is kind of a stupid thing to be proud of because isn't it "stupid, careless, oblivious girls" who stray late at night by themselves who always get into trouble? Aren't those the kinds of girls "asking for it"? I guess that's what people teach us, right? I mean, I would never share this tidbit of liberated glory with my mother, who would likely have a heart attack, telling me "gangs, rapists, perverts, werewolves and leprechauns" are on every corner waiting to pounce. She will then direct me to the news and newspaper and tell me about all the crimes against women happening in our area. My mother makes points and backs them up with footnotes and Works Cited.

She would have a point, though, but I think it's just so annoying living as a fearful woman (boo fucking hoo, I know, but bear with me). But honestly, as I learned from Women's Studies 101 (not just a GPA booster course, but a life lesson), women are conditioned to always live by a rape/danger schedule. We are limited by our fear of being attacked. We can't do shit at night for fear of being attacked. Attackers are on every corner they say. Attackers attack everyone they say. Attackers live in your home, they say. How much attacking would an attacker attack if an attacker could attack you? Lots, they say.

And of course, I did feel a tinge of regret when an underaged drunken kid offered me a sip of his cheap vodka and asked me to come to his "party". I ran like a mofo off that bus after that (in heels no less! Gawd, talk about a horro movie waiting to happen!), watching my back all the while to see if he was following me. I also had a "what the fuck moment" when a pale lady dressed in black stepped on the bus holding a human head. I was like, you have got to be kidding me, were you sent by my mom to teach me a lesson? (I realized that she was probably coming home from a Halloween party, but in my fragile state, i panicked)

Of course I'm not stupid and will not make this a routine. Nor will I run around overconfidently topless in the woods, carrying an LED-lit runway to my vag. I mean the only reason I felt okay with running from the bus stop to my house was because it literally only takes me all of two minutes to do so and secondly, because my house is close to a park and a forested trail which are much more ideal for raping.

So that's my bit of short-lived independence. It's not much and barely worth noting, but I've gained a teensy bit more confidence than I had before. All the ladies who truly feel me, throw yo hands up at me.