The sciences are nourishing girls. Or what is

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

When all my relatives and acquaintances proudly recounted my successes (a gold medal, admission to a prestigious university, then in parallel to the second), a neighbor from the ninth floor, the most intelligent old woman Elizaveta Semyonovna, only sighed: "Baby, is this happiness?" And this was said by a very intelligent woman, a former health worker who won respect and honor among colleagues and patients. I, then a 19-year-old student, began to suspect that my grandmother was developing sclerosis, and she forgets what she herself was able to achieve in life. And I? That I am worse? Lizaveta (as the tenants call her with trepidation), catching me in the front door, tried to explain the basics of the behavior of an intelligent woman:

"Darling, learn, communicating with men, to curb your abilities a little. If wit and erudition are still in the price of noteworthy young people, then God forbid you show clear logic, as well as the ability to conduct polemics and a tenacious mind on first dates! Leave it on the period of closer acquaintance. As well as the mention of the number of diplomas!"

I pretended to listen, while I frantically searched for ways to free myself from my neighbor. Her advice seemed too old-fashioned to me - smelling of mothballs, starchy collars and dried roses stored in old diaries!

But time passed, and with a certain amount of horror I began to be convinced of Lizaveta's rightness -

New male acquaintances, to my surprise, avoided mentioning my successes among friends, and generally tried in every possible way to "put me in my place" in conversations about technology, computers, politics or economic reforms. When they did not succeed, they were very offended. And I didn't understand what had happened. And up to a certain point, I made the same mistakes over and over again.

But if my experience was, though full of disappointments, but contained some positive moments, then my friend - a wonderful girl - is a shining example of how "inappropriate" a woman's mind. Vika is an excellent hostess, a tactful person who dresses well and expensively, a 27-year-old girl who looks after herself with two higher education, a good job and her own apartment. She is a girl in the "literal sense" - that is, virgin. Yes, she has principles, but they cannot be called completely unrealistic: Victoria believes that one cannot exchange for insignificant intrigues and wants her husband to be her first man. Young people like this fact very much, with whom we (I and all my friends) are trying to introduce Vika. They also like her cakes, and the sterile cleanliness in the house, and good makeup. Only one trifle does not suit - Victoria is smart, and she categorically does not want to hide this mind. When in a conversation she notices the weakness of the interlocutor in any issue, she will never miss this, she will definitely insert something, not abruptly, but so much to the point that the person is simply lost. Those "rare men" who do not get scared right away, but insist on subsequent meetings, usually come to a state of stupor from her refusal to kiss "goodbye" on the second date, and those who survived this too, still disappear after the third (which takes place with quotes from the classics and remarks about the fact that this variety of apples or something worse should not be served with red champagne). Once she fell in love. Strongly. But everything went as before. She was very worried, reproached herself, but could not understand why everything turned out this way. Victoria still hopes to start a family in which she will no doubt become a wonderful wife and tender mother. But is it real?

I asked this question to Elizaveta Semyonovna. And she was surprised by her answer:

“The young lady is not smart, but only well educated.

According to my "expert" (and she can be trusted - along with her career, she was married twice, both husbands adored her, but unfortunately she was widowed twice, left alone in old age) - you cannot call a woman smart if she does not know art communication with people. Not only with men, although this is very, very important. An intelligent woman should be able to communicate with her friends, and with children, and with the elderly, while remaining herself and not offending others.

Are we really mistaken, investing in the concept of "smart woman" only data on education, career success, acquired professional skills and read books? Are the "obligatory disciplines" really worldly wisdom, a little coquetry, the ability to present oneself? YES! And again YES!

This is not so difficult to follow, in any case, if you have mastered higher mathematics, resistance of materials or theoretical phonetics (that seemed incomprehensible at first), then this science can be mastered. There would be a desire.

To be able to communicate does not mean breaking oneself or belittling one's mental abilities, it means descending from the heights of narcissism and understanding that everyone has "their own story" worthy of listening, understanding and accepting. Even if at first glance this is not the story of a prince, then you should not immediately retire angrily. Maybe this really isn't a prince. And just a duke or a baron. Which is also not bad.

It is very difficult to find a worthy couple for a woman who, as the classic writes, is "pleasant in all respects", who has an arranged life, has her own goals and principles, and an excellent education. But not impossible. I say this as a girl who considers herself to be in the above category.

Elizaveta Semyonovna took an active part in the "redemption" of the bride - me. When my future husband and I were already leaving the house to go to church, she whispered: "I always knew that you, child, will definitely become an intelligent woman." And it was a compliment, and what a compliment!

Yesterday, returning from work, I noticed next to our house an elderly man of extremely respectable appearance, with a bouquet of tulips. And, running out after another ten minutes to walk the dog, I ran into a neighbor. "Let me introduce you, my close friend Vasily Kharlampievich!", - said our Elizaveta Semyonovna, accepting flowers from him. While this gentleman bowed and kissed my hand, she continued: "Vasily insists that I move to him, but I'm not sure … (at these words, the man shuddered and raised his beseeching eyes). You and your husband for dinner. Although, what could be interesting in a dinner with old people? " And she gave her new address.

We will definitely go, I decided. And for a long time then I watched how decorously this couple walked through the square. Oh, and our coquette Lizaveta, oh, and clever! In 78 years she gets married !!! The third and, I'm sure, a happy marriage! And my Victoria at 27 is still alone ….. Indeed:

"A truly smart woman cannot be lonely. Although she can. If she wants it …"