Tough girls. attitude. cursing. Chrissie Hynde. Yep, as a high school kid, I was very much afraid of these girls but also worshipped them. The Pretenders’ “Message Of Love” is a great example of that early 80s feminist angst I worshipped so much and, that leads me to Rachelle. She was tough enough that straight guys would cross the hallway to avoid meeting her stare. She often dressed in a pre-grunge dishevelment that had precise safety pins and favorite band pins displayed prominently. But, her sarcastic wit and provocative manner always made me laugh, albeit nervously. Here’s to the tough girls who paved the way for my own sneering sarcasm.