Today was pajama day and school. The Kid was so excited about the prospect of jumping out of bed and going straight to school in the stuff she slept in that she got up at 6am and asked every twenty minutes if it was time to go yet. The Baby on the other hand was sawing logs up until I carried him out to the car because he was up partying and jumping on the bed until 1am. So, today I exist on this low mellow plane where nothing can happen very fast because I'm still half asleep and the whole day is surreal.
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I had to edit it down to 200 words or less. It was excruciating but worth it. Last Sunday my letter to the editor was published in the
Rockford Register Star.
"Last week we ventured to Midway Village in Rockford, IL for the WWI re-enactment. Face to face with history, we learned about blacksmithing, typesetting, and the American Red Star Animal Relief. That afternoon, I gathered my children close, among the crowd, for a battle re-enactment. My daughter squeezed into me admitting she was scared. I hugged her telling her war is scary, you have to be brave. The crowd hushed as rounds of blanks exchanged, men fell clutching themselves, quietly closing their eyes. When the shooting stopped, a chorus of women's voices rose. Wearing sashes, they emerged yelling, "What do we want!" "The right to vote!" "When do we want it?!" "Now!" I whispered to my daughter to raise her fist in solidarity with the Suffragettes. We stood proud as the women of our past marched and men standing among us laughed and yelled "No!" On Saturday afternoon, amidst jeers from the crowd, my nine-year-old daughter not only learned of the struggles of history, but the struggles ahead. One in which the men we stand next to think it's hilarious to yell "No!" to women's rights. Thanks guys, for teaching her early why she needs to be brave."
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After getting to captain my team to a win last weekend against the Decatur Derby Dames (141 to 101) I bought myself tall black athletic socks from
Sock Dreams and this derby patch from
Donna "The Hot Flash". Today it's official I can sew it onto my warm up jacket. Happy Birthday Me!
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Vivian Maier
