Bad Girls Forever...Or Just A Season

Remember Tonya Harding? She was the sole reason why I watched the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. I've never been one to sit and watch ANY sporting event, but she brought the Trailer Park to the ice, and I was hooked.

I have this bizarre fascination with female train wrecks. My all-time favorite female celeb? Britney. Yep, Britney. I actually shed tears when she was going through her "crazy stage". I really felt for that girl! I wanted to move out to LA and be her friend. I just knew we could bond over our past mistakes and make each other laugh. Now that she's all back to "normal", I kind of miss the crazy Britney. Don't be shocked...you probably do too. She was nothing if not entertaining.

Years back, while I was in grad school, I did volunteer work in a woman's prison. It was one of the highlights of my professional career. I sincerely enjoyed those women. I loved hearing their stories, watching them lie to me and try to manipulate me. It was FASCINATING, I'm telling you. A real sociological study behind those walls. Women who didn't have to play the role of wife and mom....just being raw and brazen and anti-establishment. It was thrilling to observe.

What is it with me and the bad girls? If I had to classify myself on the continuum of bad versus goodness, I'd definitely place myself closer to the bad side....simply because I've lived life waaaaay too close to the edge at times. Yes, I'm a good person. Yes, I'm a loving and gentle soul. Blah blah blah. But I have that bad girl still within me. The girl with the shady past...the girl with one too many secrets....the girl that can feel right at home in a smoky bar in a strange city. Yea, I get the bad girls.

But obviously, all bad girls really do need to grow up at some point. You can only take the bad girl thing so far until you become an old lady, sitting on a bar stool, with a Virginia Slim in your hand. Thankfully I did grow up. Britney appears to be on her way as well. But Tonya? Oh, Miss Tonya. I'm afraid we'll see her on a few more bar stools.