In some places in this world, there are people who never know what a full plate looks like. Rather sad, that we who routinely fill ourselves to the point of bursting, take for granted what others lack. Then too, there are people who simply go to work then come home and then the next day go back to work. They have no choice in what they might do career wise, and no choice in how they might spend their free time. Rather sad . . . .

I am one of the lucky ones. I get to decide what to do with my days. I have no free time – I just have time.

Yesterday, for example, I saw an email that hailed from Mat Su College – it said that there was going to be a woman’s self-defense class offered today. Pete signed me up for it because it appeared impossible to register on-line. I made the decision to take the class before I had too much time to think about it because I knew that otherwise, I would err on the side of common sense and bypass it. I just have too much ahem on my plate right now, and really should not have added any more. But I did.

The course met today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will meet the following two Fridays. This meant (of course) that I had to get up early, and as usual, this was very difficult. Fortunately, I did not have to drive in the dark because it is plenty light out now at 8:15 a.m.

I pretty quickly figured out that I made the right decision in taking this course, which is called RAD, short for Rape Aggression Defense. The teacher today, a University of Alaska Anchorage Police Officer, did a really good job of imparting important information. The most important thing I learned was that a woman has the right to defend herself if a man attempts to harm her. Harm includes rape and assault. In other words, no means no.

I asked Officer Morgan if he thought the laws might change and he said no, they will not. I am a bit dubious about this because right now our president and his cronies don’t see that woman should have any rights. I also wonder if the changing social climate will make it harder for women to bring court cases in the future. As it stands now, if a woman gets in a car (is hitch hiking) and a man makes advances, he is liable, not the woman, because no means no. Seems like this is the only power we women have.

Today was the lecture portion. But at the conclusion of class we did an exercise in which we stood in a power pose, one leg behind the other, arm back, ready to hit. We then all stepped forward and said “No.” Right then I inherently knew that I am going to learn moves that complement the way I think and the way I move. I did ask, and I do hope that I learn, what to do if someone attempts to pull me off one of my horses.

We’ll see. Full plate, plate full. Fortunately, I am a big eater.

Next: 81. 3/23/19: At the End of a Long Day