Women Who Run With The Wolves

Am I the only one who remembers this book? Surely not. When I first read it, more years ago than I willingly admit, I instantly identified with the parallel drawn between female wolves and Wild Women. No, I don't recall details -- I'm very bad with details -- but I do recall that I felt fierce, and strong, and primed to howl at the moon.

Like now.

The alpha female in a wolf pack is fiercely protective of her young, her pack. Seems to me it's the right blend of gentleness and ferociousness. Some prefer the elephant model, but the image just doesn't resonate.

Which takes me to Hillary. You know exactly who I mean. She's compassionate...and ferocious and is prepared to bare her teeth. Mostly, we don't like that. The 'we' of which I speak, is women, not men. I'm troubled at the vitriol slung at her by women, especially the well-educated and priviledged. While I'm deeply ambivalent about some of her policies and positions, the woman is prepared to kick ass any time, any place. Some would say she is too 'male'. Maybe. But I'm a pragmatist. The world I'd like to navigate through is not the one we have since GW Fuckup has diddled it for 6 years. I don't think isolation is the answer and neither is kumbaya -- the Kucinich solution. We tried that in 1939. Ooops.

Ken Burns reminds us of what may be required - toil, sacrifice, community, perhaps a "Village". What I do know is that age -- that other taboo as it applies to women -- teaches some of us lessons. Hillary is nothing, if not a quick study. My instincts tell me she's gotten wiser, more savvy, more pragmatic. Short of a revolution ...and that's not comin' people ... we need smart, pragmatic, compassionate, agile leadership that can 'hunt' if required. Maybe a wolf is just the thing.