At 10:19 AM on Wednesday, March 8 we received an email from our campus administration notifying us of the high wind warning for the area. I was on the bus at the time making my way to Biology at Notre Dame. When I arrived at my stop and began to walk to class, I realized just how strong the winds truly were. My hair flew in various directions, and I had to force my body forward through the gusts which seemed to be coming from all directions.

Two hours later after class was over, I again found myself attempting to walk against the wind. As I braced my body against the onslaught of air, I reflected on the connotations of Mother Nature’s wrath on International Women’s Day.

Mother Nature. It irritates me that women are associated with the ever changing, ever moving, unpredictable weather, while men are associated with the punctual, sensical Father Time.

Despite being pushed from all sides, I soon found myself amused by this thing we label as Mother Nature. She has just as much a right as any of us to be pissed right now. Can you imagine what it must be like to be Mother Nature and have people not believe in global warming? That alone would be a good enough reason to be angry, let alone that apparently she’s a woman like the rest of us.

So as I walked back from class on International Women’s Day, I went from being frustrated by the wind to being comforted. It occurred to me that Mother Nature was joining in our cause. She was reminding women everywhere--or at least in the greater South Bend area--of the force that we can stand in this world. She challenges us to let the battles come. We will blow them away when they do.

Warning: Women ready to fight.