Cathy, The Badass

My wife Cathy is a certified badass. Seventy years old, she still does CrossFit regularly, while I only get my exercise from peaceful walks in the woods. I was thinking about this in the weeks leading up to our 48th anniversary on June 16th.

 Yes, she still does CrossFit, which she started over ten years ago. It is good for her strength, her balance, her core, and her mind. She loves telling me about whatever maniacal workout they did that day when she comes home from the gym. Recently, she was sick and could not work out directly with the others, so she “only” did a 5,000-meter row. In the parking lot. By herself. That is a little over 3 miles for you civilians. Ooooof!

The thing is, Cath has always been badass, and not just about working out. She has lived her life her way, and it has been an adventure. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Two letters of appreciation from two different directors of the FBI — Explained to my Battalion Commander’s wife (when I was a First Lieutenant) why supporting her own career was the most important thing for her — Chased down a man who tried stealing her purse  — Skied from Austria into Switzerland just because she could – Rode a bike and camped out on the 110 miles loop around Bodensee (Lake Constance) on the border between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with a girlfriend — Arrested by the Soviets in the old USSR (in Moscow) in 1989 — Rode and/or owned horses for over 45 years — Took riding lessons in Germany … in German — When a boss (West Point grad and retired Colonel) questioned her ethics on an issue, she corrected him, and commented, “I’ve worked for Generals; I’ve worked for Colonels; I’m married to a West Pointer, but I’m not sure I can work for you.” She then lectured him about why everyone else in the office was afraid of him. He backed down and apologized to her. — Started her own marketing and research company — Set up a horse breeding farm — Suffered only minor injuries after a car hit her as a pedestrian — Broke her collarbone in a horse incident. Finished with the horse, then calmly walked to the house and informed me she though she broke a bone — Calmed her husband down as they waited for an ambulance after a Copperhead snake bit him — Was and is a Multiple Sclerosis Warrior — Is quiet until she isn’t — Has no problem speaking truth to power —

 Cathy does not suffer fools gladly. Oh, she will tolerate them up to a point, but then she is done. 

 I was recently reminded of her badassery while in Malaysia returning from an event with our running group. It was about 9PM. We were on a bus returning to our hotel with a number of other runners. A guy we didn’t know was seated behind us and talking incessantly with his seat mate. He was a large man – maybe 250 pounds. You could tell he was talking bullshit, but that is OK. The bus stopped to let two people off who were staying at a different hotel. The guy behind us started whining loudly about the people getting off the bus – it was delaying us…they weren’t supposed to stop there…get this bus moving…. what the f’ is going on? … Cathy turned around in her seat and said, “Will you please shut up!?” He answered “Oh, am I bothering you?” She shot back, “Yea you are bothering me. And you are bothering everyone else on the bus. You are an asshole!”

 He didn’t say anything for the last ten minutes of the bus ride.

 Our life together has been an adventure. Thank god, she was never a Stepford Wife, blindly standing by her man. That would never have worked for either of us. Over our years together, we have had our fair share of “disagreements.” Those who know us, know we aren’t shy about “discussing” an issue in front of others.

She is strong, and tough as nails.

48 years of marriage to one badass woman. I count myself the luckiest man alive.