My colleagues at the University of San Diego sometimes tease that I am “not a real woman,” evidently because I am conservative, a bit outspoken, and good at math. (One or two of them are not kidding.) Today, however, I feel decidedly like a woman and a virtuous one at that–at least as that term in used in the Bible. Like the “virtuous woman” of Proverbs, Chapter 31, I am a merchant ship.
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies….
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar….
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard….
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night….
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Well, perhaps I have not exactly clothed anyone in scarlet. Or even made coverings of tapestry or clothing of silk and purple. But I have done the modern equivalent: I discovered BARGAINS. Yes, I know that it is hardly news that one can get bargains on Ebay. But did you know that you can buy new Stuart Weitzman shoes on Ebay for $50? Or that shoes are a particularly good thing to buy on-line, since each shoe style has a name like “Elizabeth” or “Contempo,” so they are easy to search? I didn’t know any of this, and evidently many people don’t, since Saks, Nordstrom and Needless Mark-up are getting away with selling the same shoes for $200. But now I know, so now I’m a virtuous woman. Tomorrow I’ll go back to being a law professor (perhaps then the market will be back in equilibrium).
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