| This past Sunday afternoon was a lazy one here | | | | one of Nicole Malachowski's routines when out on |
| in San Antonio. So when we found out the annual | | | | the town has historically been to challenge men |
| air show was going on out at Lackland AFB we | | | | who approach her with five chances at guessing |
| decided to get off our tails and go check it out. | | | | what she does for a living. If 'stumped', the 'loser' |
| Along with the usual spectacle involving "warbirds" | | | | would have to buy her a drink. |
| from WWII, aerobatic wizardry and guys jumping | | | | I'll say. |
| out of perfectly good airplanes, the world-famous | | | | Did you happen to note a certain ambiguity in this |
| USAF Thunderbirds were on hand to provide the | | | | article's title? That was purely intentional. |
| big finale. | | | | Whichever way you read it, it resonates. Whether |
| Now, I really enjoy air shows and was looking | | | | Maj. Malachowski is the one who doesn't' share |
| forward to checking out the T-birds for the first | | | | her peers' interest in attracting women or the |
| time having seen the Navy's Blue Angels on at | | | | other five pilots aren't going to win her is |
| least six or seven occasions. But since I do what I | | | | irrelevant...the point stands either way. We all |
| do for a living, I couldn't help considering what the | | | | know that the sharpest of women have an |
| dating lives of T-bird pilots must be like. After all, | | | | incredibly "challenging" time finding men who are |
| can you think of any more "alpha" a bad boy | | | | worthy of them in general. Imagine all the men |
| lifestyle than performing as one of the six most | | | | who fell short of the mark with the Lady |
| publicly bad-to-the-bone fighter pilots walking the | | | | T-Bird-they themselves the likely 2% (max) of |
| planet? Surely this has to at least help when it | | | | the single male population who weren't too |
| comes to attracting women. | | | | intimidated to even say "hello". |
| Except that one of them--Maj. Nicole Malachowski | | | | But check it out, this is where things get even |
| at slot "3"--is a woman. | | | | more interesting...Nicole Malachowski is happily |
| As you can imagine, this plot twist caused me to | | | | married. To a man. Specifically, to a man who |
| ruminate on the subject at hand all the more | | | | somehow, somewhere managed to win her |
| deeply. If Thunderbird pilots have what could be | | | | affection, and presumably her respect. |
| argued the ultimate trump card when it comes to | | | | Now granted, I know very little about either one |
| establishing "social proof" with women, how does | | | | of the Malachowskis except for what I've read in |
| that translate for Maj. Malachowski? | | | | a few Internet snippets from "Feature" sections |
| When the T-birds made their customary sound | | | | nationwide. So you'd better believe I'd love to |
| off before taking flight, the decidedly feminine | | | | interview them (And if the Malachowskis have |
| exclamation of the word "Three!" roused at least | | | | been forwarded this article somehow and are |
| one response of "Dude, that was a chick!" from | | | | reading, I've got a podcast episode with your |
| an apparently startled adolescent boy. | | | | name on it). That said, my educated guess is that |
| Indeed. And "Major M." was runner up for | | | | Mr. Malachowski (also an Air Force Major, |
| Homecoming Queen back in high school, to | | | | curiously) is an inherently masculine man with a |
| complicate matters even more. | | | | genuine sense of self-confidence. |
| So first we had Danica Patrick, driving Indy cars | | | | Whatever the case is, she found a "keeper", didn't |
| over 200 mph while looking pretty good | | | | she? And you know what I also have a tendency |
| simultaneously. Now this. | | | | to believe? It's pure conjecture, of course, but I |
| I think the verdict is in, guys. Being a racecar | | | | believe her husband might say he found a "needle |
| driver or a "flyboy" isn't what makes you a "man". | | | | in a haystack" himself. I'm sure he was willing to |
| Think about that if ever tempted to feebly | | | | settle for no less than he deserved, a sentiment |
| coerce a woman into somehow believing you are | | | | that his wife no doubt shares. The fact that he |
| attractive because of whatever you do on | | | | met Nicole, was not intimidated by her and chose |
| weekends, whatever car you drive or "whatever" | | | | to spend his life with her tells me something. It |
| else external. | | | | tells me that having an "inner game" as bulletproof |
| And apparently Nicole Malachowski must get a | | | | as his makes him an even badder @$$ than his |
| kick out the steady stream of guys who persist | | | | wife is. Which is exactly why Mrs. Malachowski |
| in this lame-o peacock ritual. According to reports, | | | | must dig him...majorly. |