A Piece of my Heart is Gone… May 18, 2009

In one’s life there are places that are truly special. For me the home I grew up in, my parents’ land in Northern Wisconsin, Walden Pond in Concord, MA. Another of these special places was destroyed yesterday morning. The church building in Cambridge, MA, across from Longfellow’s house burned down yesterday. This was the building where I met some amazing people and forged lasting friendships that have saved my life over the years. My son was blessed in the chapel. I taught Primary and Relief Society lessons there. It was a refuge for my family where we could connect with other graduate student families each week and support each other. I met so many wonderful people there and the memories of many Sundays and other activities come back to my mind.
I know that the Church will rebuild. I hope they can save the steeple and somehow use it in the new design. I hope that it is unique rather than the bland, cookie-cutter chapels which dot the country. This building was special. It had character. It was bright and inspiring inside. It was ours… and even though one leaves the Longfellow Park building to go on to other pastures, it still is ours… it still felt like home.
Perhaps it’s a bit dramatic that I feel this way about bricks and mortar. However to me, it was so much more than that. All I can say is that today…. a piece of my heart is gone.

Feminism no longer needed? April 19, 2009

Feminism may still be a dirty word to many.  For some it brings up images of bra-burning and children left to fend for themselves because of absent mothers.  For many others, including myself, it is the God-given right for women to be treated fairly, equally, and to be respected as human beings with the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as their male counterparts.  It isn’t a radical idea.  For me this is as essential as breathing.  And this past week, my breath was taken away.

Too often I take for granted the fact that I live in a country where I can vote for my leaders, own property, work in my chosen field and leave my house whenever I feel like it.  Thanks to those women (and a few men, too) who battled for years to get laws passed so that I could have those freedoms.  You would think, “We’re in the 21st century, why are we still talking about this?”  Here is my answer…

These are courageous Afghan women who, on the risk of their safety and perhaps even their lives, went out into the street to protest new laws passed with Afghan leader Hamid Karzai’s signature.  These laws go back to Taliban-era misogyny: women are not allowed to leave their homes, unless it is an emergency,without their huband’s (or the male in charge) permission.  They cannot work, go to school or receive medical care without their husband’s permission.   They must have sex with their husbands whenever he wishes and they cannot refuse, in essence, legalizing marital rape.   Women must also wear make-up and dress up if their husband insists upon it.  In the case of divorce, only fathers and grandfathers are eligible for custody.

These women took to the streets, much like the suffragettes in Great Britain and the US did years ago, to protest these laws.  They stood outside of a local madrasa and demanded the simple right of being treated like a human being.  For this they were pelted with rocks and called “whores”.

These new laws affect the Shiite people– only about 10% of the population.  Are their passing a way to placate the Shiite men who feel as if they need them to be in “control” of their women?  History has shown how power can to terrible things to people— heaven forbid that a woman have the power over herself to leave the house when she wishes.

This situation isn’t the only one in the world where women are being treated as “less-thans”.  So many governments and religions have laws and practices that tell women they are not as worthy as men.  This makes me sad, frustrated, angry…

Each time I leave my house this week, whether it is to run errands, go to work, or to church, I will silently say a prayer for those women in Afghanistan.  I will pray that enlightenment might come to their leaders– to their fathers and husbands– and that this law might be changed.  I want them to know that they are not alone in wanting to be treated like they matter.

So, is feminism no longer needed?  I think it is needed now more than ever.

Mother Necessity, where would we be? February 25, 2009

“Elias can you help me with my sewing?…” Ah, yes the line from the Schoolhouse Rock song, “Mother Necessity”. Elias Howe is my hero. He invented my favorite thing in the world, the sewing machine. I have an odd reverence for my sewing machine. I must admit that I simply ADORE it. It allows my creativity to flow in ways that make me happy, content, and at times frustrated. However, this is not a frustrating time, but rather a happy one. I’ve been put in charge of the costumes for the school musical of “Mulan” so I’ve been busing making around 40 kimonos/cheongsam tops. Here is a picture of the cheongsam tops the girls will wear…

I had an image in my head of what I wanted them to look like and just started to cut and sew. They turned out exactly how I had imagined them. Sigh… I love it when things work out so well.

Giddy with excitement! February 2, 2009

Yes, I watched the Super Bowl. Not for the game, though it was exciting. Not for the commercials, they were rather disappointing. I watched for only one reason: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I have been a huge Springsteen fan since I was about 12 years old. The short, half-time show just reminded me of the energy and music I love so well.
When I was 17, my friend Mike and I went to see Springsteen during his “Tunnel of Love” tour. We purchased our tickets through the local radio station and joined other fans on a bus for the four hour ride to Minneapolis. The concert was amazing! We rocked out for four straight hours– I couldn’t believe the band did an hour of encores! After the concert, with our ears ringing, we headed back home, trying to get some sleep on the bus. I just couldn’t sleep as I was so keyed up and riding high on the musical experience I just had. We arrived back in Wausau around 4 am, exhausted, but happy. I had to keep my agreement with my mom: in order to go to the concert on a school night, I had to go to school the next day. I was tired throughout the day, but it was worth it.
When I first met Dave, he seduced me with his knowledge of Bruce. I mentioned that Springsteen was my favorite artist and he said that he like him too. I asked Dave what his favorite album was… His response, “Nebraska”. I thought, “Whoa, this guy actually knows the album Nebraska?!” It was only later that Dave told me he knew that he would have to answer that question carefully. He didn’t want to pick a too-obscure album (trying too hard) or one that everyone knows (too easy and not believable). I bought it hook, line, and sinker. Our song is “Thunder Road”– he still sings it to me every once in a while.
So this morning, as I went to the TicketMaster website for the United Center in Chicago, the memories of that amazing concert was in my mind. For my birthday this year, I was able to get tickets for my hubby and I to go see Springsteen in May. I cannot wait! Twenty-one years after seeing him for the first time, I’ll get to do it all over again.

Oh Baby it’s cold outside!! January 16, 2009

Brrrrr! It is cold, dang-it! For the past few days the midwest has felt like a deep freezer working overtime. On Thursday and Friday the kids didn’t have school and my work was closed as well. We’ve spent the time cleaning (the kids-their bedrooms… finally!) and quilting (me–naturally!) The air is so cold that after just a few minutes your face starts to hurt. I was happy to let Dave shovel the driveway in the -13 degree morning stillness while I snoozed a bit longer. As I lay dozing, listening to the scrape of the shovel, I thought about the cold weather I experienced while growing up in north-central Wisconsin.
We rarely had snow days. The only thing that prevented school from being in session was if the buses couldn’t start. I remember walking the three blocks to my bus stop in frigid, snot-freezing temperatures and jumping up and down trying to keep warm. We would have contests to see if one’s spit would freeze before hitting the ground. We would huddle in groups to protect ourselves from the bitter wind.
The weather never seemed to stop us from doing stuff outside. My favorite winter past time was ice skating. Ever Christmas, until my feet stopped growing, I received a new, bright white pair of ice skates, complete with a bright, red maple leaf on the side. (Perhaps I was always meant to marry a Canadian, hmmm…) We would walk–a little over a mile or so– if no one would take us, to the municipal rink. There my brother would play pick up games of hockey and I would live out my dreams of one day becoming Dorothy Hamill (minus the goofy haircut). We’d skate until our fingers and toes were numb and then head to the warming house to thaw out. No one wanted to stay inside for long, because you were wasting precious time on the ice.
Girls were definitely not welcome on the hockey rink, no matter how tough you tried to be. Our solution was to organize vicious games of “crack the whip” on the main rink. This seemed to curb our need for any aggression as we watched many a child spin toward the snowbanks that surrounded the rink.
If we weren’t skating, we’d go sledding at George St. hill. It was steep, fabulous place to sled. The only drawback was that the end of the hill lead up onto Military Rd. If the snow piles weren’t tall enough, some kids went up and over onto the road. On the far left side of the hill there was always a daredevil run made up of serious “bumps”. I must admit that I never went down that run. It scared me. I guess my desire to keep all of my teeth intact was greater than the potential thrill. Again, we’d go sledding for hours, until we were soaked and freezing.
The last thing we did in winter that I truly miss was snowmobiling. My dad had a few machines as did most of his side of the family. We would get the “snowmobile suits” on and drive through the woods and over the fields. A few people around here have machines, but you have to go up into Michigan to really enjoy them on the trails there.

Ah, the frozen memories. Now I’m a sissy. I’m content to sit behind a sewing machine and create quilts that will keep me and those I love warm.

There must be some truth to the dumb blonde jokes… January 14, 2009

I always thought Kellie Pickler was a complete idiot when I watched her on American Idol.   I know second graders who know more geography than she does!  Sigh… it is so depressing…..

The theme song for Moms… December 8, 2008

Here is a video about the work mom’s do…. It says it all!

A Fabulous Christmas Show! December 1, 2008

As I had mentioned before, Soren has the part of “Randy” in the classic Christmas show, “A Christmas Story”.  Dave and I thought that by now he would be sick and tired of the thing, but to the contrary, I think he’s ready to start a new show.  He has really been a good sport– especially since he usually gets to bed around 10:45 every night.  He was really tired last week, but the Thanksgiving holiday seemed to give him the extra time to catch up on some sleep.

Our family attended the opening night of the show– it was FABULOUS!  I actually think it’s funnier than the movie because the actors really make the characters come alive.  Naturally everone laughed at the classic lines: “I can’t put my arms down!” and “F-U-D-G-E!”, but the addition of the narrator, Ralph, as an adult, walking through the scenes, really made the play something amazing.  Now if Soren can survive the rest of the shows until December 20th!

We were able to videotape the first dress rehearsal and someone posted clips on youtube.  Check it out!

Goodbye to a fellow quilter… November 12, 2008

I’m getting ready for a funeral this morning.  One of my friends I met in my quilt guild, the River Bend Quilters, died last week of a massive heart attack.  Becky Bacon was 43.  She was a wife and a mother to a sweet seven year old boy.  She had a Ph.D. in cell biology from Yale and did a post-doc at UC Berkley in genetics.  She was kind, clever, and a very talented quilter.  When I joined the guild a few years ago, Becky made me feel so welcome– I will never forget her kindness.

When I heard that she had a heart attack I was in shock. Becky was fit and trim– she loved to ride her bike.  I couldn’t understand how she could have had a heart attack so young.  Well, the hospital ran tests, and discovered that Becky had a syndrome called Long (or prolonged) Q-T Integral Syndrome, which caused her sudden death due to an irregular heartbeat. It is a congenital defect that the family did not know she had.  Her dad died of a heart attack and they think it is from the same syndrome.  Fortunately they’ll be able to do tests to see if her son, Henry, has inherited it.

I cannot imagine the grief her husband, Kevin and little Henry are feeling.  Events like this bring you face to face with your own mortality.  As I attend the funeral mass this morning I will take solace in that fact that I know Becky is with God.  I know that there is a life after this earthly one and that we are reunited with those who have gone on before us.  So I will picture Becky with her dad and pray that the Lord will comfort her family here.

I am grateful to have known Becky.  Her thread has made the quilt of my life that much more beautiful.

Halloween is for kids… October 31, 2008

Okay, it’s Halloween and my kids went out Trick-or-Treating with their friends.  Dave followed Soren and his buddy Ben around while I stayed home and got ready to pass out the loot.  Well, we live at the beginning of a long road and there are no little kids near us.  So, the only loot I passed out was to a cute little witch, Indiana Jones and Harry Potter.  Yes that’s right… only 3 kids came a-knockin’ at our house!

Now, my kids were in different subdivisions with their friends where my one friend told me she went through 10 bags of candy!  These areas are filled with nice houses and wonderful folks.  The word must have gotten out that some of them even give out full-sized candy bars.  Thus, many people come to trick-or-treat from across the city.  I really don’t mind this.  Kids are kids– candy is candy.  What I do have a problem with is when their parents (yes, parents) actually ask for candy too!  Dave was finishing up with Soren and Ben at Ben’s house when a kid came to their door.  Right behind him was his mother– complete with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth (NOT a part of any costume, mind you…) with her bad out to get some candy.  I just don’t get that!  Now, Ben’s mom gave her candy– I probably would have too as I would have worried about any “trick” that might be played on my abode at a later date.

All I can say is that Halloween is for kids…

Indiana Jones and a CloneTrooper            “Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?”