Terry Traveler – March is Women’s History Month

Terry Traveler here saying, let’s celebrate women. That’s right, March is Women’s History Month and a time as good as any to think back on all the women that made an impact on my life.

Oh sure, I’ve known some famous ladies but I’m not one to name drop. There was “Geo-Georgie-O” and her flower paintings, “Capital Hill-arity” and her husband “Billy Boy”, “Jett-Set-Joan!” the rocker, not to name a few.

But the impact they made on my life was fleeting. Yes, I have a print of one of those flowers somewhere, Arkansas accents still make me jumpy, and I put another dime in the jukebox when someone calls me “baby”. But when I think about Women’s History: the suffrage movement, equal pay for equal work, breaking the glass ceiling, I think about my mother.

My mother lived through the Great Depression, scraping by as a riveter. For 25 years she woke up extra early to make us breakfast and lunch bags. Weather never slowed her down, neither did aches and pains. Beautiful, smart, witty, versed in every topic under the sun- when she spoke rooms grew silent to hang on each phrase.

She stood up for equal rights for everyone regardless of age, sex, race, creed, color, or point of view. Of course if your point of view was skewed she changed your mind with her infallible logic and charm. She voted in every election, spoke to local politicians about issues that mattered, and called them out publicly when they chose their position over community benefits. Her makeup, clothing, every hair was in place…except when she was covered in paint, drywall, or marinara sauce.

If you called her a Feminist she never took it as a compliment or offense – she would smile as if to a child, pat you on the head, and remind you that “labels are rarely well defined”. She worked hard, gave her all, and loved without exception.

I learned at my mother’s side what it takes to make a difference in this world. She fought for a 15 cent/ hour pay increase when management was offering 5. When her boss playfully smacked her behind and called her Toots, she smacked him back. Sometimes it took silence, sometimes she went toe to toe with the Mayor, most of the time she laughed.

My mother does not have a a wing at the museum dedicated to her artwork, a biography endorsed by Oprah, or a hit tune that made looking homeless “rad”. Her history is marked with a small plaque beside the tree she saved, the knowledge that her vote helped integrate schools, and a very proud family that loves her every moment of every day, regardless of the month.

So let’s celebrate Women’s History month by appreciating all the battles fought and won – some without making national headlines.

Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts