Step Aside Boys, Let the Girl Show You How It's Done....

It's amazing, the little bits of family history that one stumbles upon-- especially when one isn't even looking for them. I wish it was common practice (or, I wish it was a MORE common practice), to tell children the stories of where their family came from-- what they did, and how they came to be who they were...

I feel this modern life, with its instant gratification and its forward thinking, has done a disservice to those who came before us, as well as a disservice to those of us that must continue on-- it's like our existence is just this fleeting, present moment, with nothing to tie us to anything or anyone else.

Case in point--- today, I found out, for the first time, that my Great-Aunt Lucy was a riveter who worked in a Wichita, Kansas airplane factory during World War II. And, that she'd even earned the nickname-- Lucy the Riveter. How is it that such a historic part of her life was never mentioned before?

My great-aunt was a "Rosie", though I'd never heard word of it before today. Granted, my memories of her are fleeting, I was just a child when she passed away.

I remember her renovated shotgun house. I remember her long white hair and her small frame. And, I knew she was a retired teacher, who cared enough about her kids to take them home with her if they were having problems learning. She was a staunch, solid, little woman who valued education-- even though she was from a small, rural community where education was second to the hard life of farm work.

She had no problem rolling up her sleeves to get the job done. And, from the little I do remember of her, I'm sure she had no problem telling folks to get out of her way when there was a job to do. I have no doubt she earned her nickname--- step aside boys, Lucy the Riveter will get the job done!

A to Z reflections....

Another A to Z challenge comes to an end--- another collection of posts and poetry have been written, another deep breath of relief is released. For my fellow bloggers that survived as well, it's another 'challenge-completed' notch carved into the writing desk. I've come to enjoy my yearly foray into the world of all things alphabetical. This was my third year, though it was only the second year I had a workable theme (which made the challenge substantially easier than the first year I attempted this challenge.) And, though my first year was difficult because my focus was so scattered, I found this year was more difficult because I lost the enthusiasm that came with the first year excitement----excitement which helped me plug along until the end of the challenge. Year 3 was a success in the sense that I completed the challenge, though, this was the year that almost wasn't---- Somewhere about a third of the way through the challenge, I seriously considered

A million lives, beneath a single sky.....

Though our feet leave different prints,our tongues sound different words, there's a mirrored rhythm in the beating of our hearts. Though born in different worlds, our eyes sharpened 'neath different moons, there's an unspoken truth in the warmth of our touch. We may walk in different strides and dream different dreams, we may speak in different voices, maybe swim in different streams. It's plain to see, when dark night falls, as all the stars shine through, that underneath it all, there's no difference 'tween me and you.

Bitter Honey

Weaving dreams of beguiling gold, a future's price for happiness. What secrets do you, determined, hold? asks the summer wind's soft caress. A guarded name, a hidden hope. Spinning wheels clutching time, grasping straw that falls away, What dreams may come, we soon may find, won't recall at end of day. A cherished life, a memory lost.

From the Inkwell, From the Vein.....

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