The Three Musketeers and One Really Stupid Boy

I'm still reading The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (pronounced doom-ah, not dumb-ass). At this point, though, it seems like it would be more aptly titled The Three Musketeers and One Really Stupid Boy, as the main character is D'Artagnan, an eighteen year old boy that left home with nothing but an old horse (which he sold), a sword (which he broke) and a little money (which he spent on a new sword). With nothing but a sword, he endeavors to join the musketeers, the elite group of highly trained guards of the king. Although well received by the captain, he is naturally refused in his attempt to become a musketeer. Yet mere minutes after his conversation with the captain, through extraordinary clumsiness, ineptitude, and sheer stupidity, he managed to offend three separate musketeers! Yet he quickly becomes friends with them because he stabs one of their enemies. Boys. In a world run by men, like France in 1625, stabbing someone else wins you respect and repays your debts! Men are so irrational that way, as if bravery and violence can replace reason! I once read a quote that went something like: "If women ran the world, there would be no more wars. Countries that were mad at each other would just give each other the silent treatment." How accurate. And men think we're irrational.

Nevertheless, there is something attractive about D'Artagnan and the romantic period in which he lives. Sometimes I really wish I could lead a successful life by just heading out with a sword, with no particular plan, no N.E.W.T. courses, nothing but determination. These days, it seems like every waking moment is to prepare you for something. You take beginner level courses to prepare you for O.W.L. courses to prepare you for N.E.W.T. courses to prepare you for a job to prepare you for a higher position to prepare you to support a family to pay for an education to prepare your kids to get a job... and it goes on and on and on and on. We spend too much time preparing and not enough living. My goal for this year, my last year at Hogwarts, is to live. To focus not quite as much on preparing, even if my grades slip a smidgeon (ok maybe without my grades slipping... reminds me too much of my Boggart), and actually enjoy this year and have fun with my friends. Despite being so pragmatic, sometimes I wish we could go back to a more romantic time.