Spitfire

I have another little sister who is not Savvymom. I've decided that her blogger-world name should be Spitfire, unless she wants something else. It fits her, though. The girl is 21, 4'11", gorgeous, and will go toe-to-toe with pretty much anyone. A few months ago she hauled off and smacked a guy who made "unwelcome advances." She even chewed out her oral surgeon, and he totally caved! I admire this, because, as we all know, dental care providers tend to shake me off my groove.

Spitfire graduated from Utah State this spring, and has been trying to figure out what to do ever since. Last night, she made the final decision to serve a mission. We've all thought that she would be a great missionary, and figured she would be the one to go, so this isn't really a shock. But still, it's a hard choice to make when there are all these options and you don't want to just head blindly on a completely wrong course. So now she feels great and excited and at peace and all that good stuff. My dad is thrilled, because she was his last hope for having a daughter on a mission. Not that he pressured any of us, mind you, but we knew he was hoping. He even offered to pay our way, which Spitfire remembered and promptly called him on.

One of my reasons for thinking that she should go was purely for statistical purposes. Because if she goes, then here's what we will have:

1. Nemesis--No mission, graduated from BYU, Master's degree from England, hopes to get married (preferably to Ioan Gruffudd) but will be the best spinster she can be until then.
2. Savvymom--Temple marriage to v nice boy at young age, babies, had to change educational plans and do lots of extra work, but will still graduate this year. Yay for Savvymom!
3. Spitfire--Graduated from USU, mission, then it's anybody's guess.

We could be the Trinity of Multiple Options for Righteous and Kick-Trash Women or something. Maybe we'll be asked to go on a lecture circuit.

I know I have lots I would like to say to the dear young girls in Young Women. Let's hope they're being raised by a different generation than the one that taught me. I came to BYU fully expecting to get married and drop out, because that's pretty much what my YW leaders told me would happen. No one ever mentioned that I might not get married and then find myself graduating with absolutely no career plan at all. (Side note: The YW leaders who told me to go to Ricks or LDS business college for just a year or two because that's all I would really need? None of their daughters graduated from college. I'm just saying.)

Of course, these women meant well. They grew up in a different time and had no way of knowing that there would be this army of single graduated LDS women in which I currently find myself. And it's a great thing to hear President Hinckley and the rest of the General Authorities talk about how important education is. They don't get up there and say, "Hey, hold off on that college stuff. You wouldn't want to become intimidating." Instead they're up there saying, "Remember to keep your priorities straight, but get all the education you can! Get off your butt and make a life for yourself and find a way to contribute!" I'm paraphrasing here, of course.

Anyway, congratulations to Spitfire as she prepares for her next big adventure!