This did not begin as a banner morning for me. I jumped on my scale first thing, just as I have been doing for weeks, only to discover that I have somehow gained weight in the last couple of days rather than losing. So much for living off of a low calorie count of fruits and veggies and low fat meats, not to mention three mile walks each day. Next, as I ate my two hard boiled eggs and a banana I perused the news on CNN learning that Donald Trump carried the day in the latest primaries. To top it all the big rain that I was counting on for my plants didn’t seem to have materialized in my neck of the woods. We got some sturm und drang but only a smattering of precipitation. I was bummed out but determined to be the master of my own outlook on life when I saw today’s Google doodle peeking curiously out of the corner of my laptop screen. With one click I was soon grinning like a kid who had discovered a big refrigerator box in the middle of the living room. I forgot all of my temporary woes. Continue reading “Out of Thin Air”
Category: Women
Beyond the Box
Today we celebrate International Women’s Day. UNESCO has noted on this particular occasion that textbooks from around the world too often contain images that stereotype women and have a tendency to limit what young girls believe they may ultimately accomplish. This organization hopes to achieve global equality for men and women by 2030, pointing out that presently the highest incidence of poverty occurs in single family homes where women are the breadwinners. Theirs is a noble goal but I fear that it overlooks multiple complicating factors not the least of which revolve around cultures, religions, and history. I suspect that ultimately the most that we might actually accomplish is learning how to respect the choices that women make. Continue reading “Beyond the Box”
Mighty Women
Mike and I got home after dark yesterday from a weekend in San Antonio. It was a quick trip so it was relatively easy to unpack and settle in for the evening. We had eaten dinner on the road which meant that I didn’t have to worry with cooking. We were both feeling a kind of happy tired that we get when we’ve had a good time and neither of us was up to any kind of activity other than watching a bit of television. I took out the remote control for the television and began surfing aimlessly when I saw that Fried Green Tomatoes was showing. That was it for me. I just had to stay right on that channel even though I’ve seen the movie over and over again. Every single time that I watch the film or read the book I find myself wishing that I had enough talent to produce the kind of classic that Fannie Flagg did when she wrote the enchanting story. The movie itself is a perennial choice in the catalog of my all time favorites. While it showcases a tour de force of talent that I appreciate it mostly reminds me of just how important my female relationships have been. Continue reading “Mighty Women”
Wings and Broomsticks
Women are angels and when someone breaks our wings we simply continue to fly on our broomsticks. We’re flexible like that.
This morning I read a report from CNN that during the big snowstorm of last weekend only women from Congress showed up for work. They somehow managed to find a way to travel through the snowbound roads and get safely to their offices. It doesn’t surprise me in the least. Women have been quietly getting things done regardless of the circumstances since the beginning of time.
When everyone in a household is bedridden and sick with the flu, the woman in residence will pull herself together just enough to care for the sick. She’ll make some soup and check on the children and push herself past her own fever and headache. She does what needs to be done without notice or fanfare. She somehow finds the energy to carry on even when all she really wants to do is sleep for a week. Continue reading “Wings and Broomsticks”
Losing Greatness
When I first met Ina I was admittedly in awe of her. She had the reputation of a rockstar, a teacher who somehow transcends all of the complications of a classroom and soars above the rest of us mere mortals. It would take time before I found myself on a team of teachers with her, time when I was finding my way in an educational environment that was far more difficult than any that I had ever before encountered. Luckily I had the opportunity to enjoy a kind of apprenticeship with some of the finest teachers in the school, especially Ina.
The years when I was on a team with Ina were some of the best and happiest of my career. I learned much but mostly I found an endearing and generous friend and unofficial mentor in her. She helped me to understand that a classroom is so much more than just a place for learning facts and ideas. She taught me by example how to elevate my instruction and to understand and love my students. She was a gifted and generous woman who had been blessed with an abundance of talent that she wanted to share with the world. Continue reading “Losing Greatness”
All It Takes Is A Little Love 