7th May 2008

Trailblazing Women Make a Difference - Barbara Walters Book “Audition” Special Interview by Charlie Gibson

Whew! that’s a long title!  I watched the Barbara Walter’s interview by Charlie Gibson on ABC tonight.  I have always enjoyed watching her in the past 20 some odd years on ABC, or at least as long as I can remember watching her.  In this case it might be longer, you never know…. :-)

 Gibson interviewed her adopted daughter as well as interviewed Walters on the topic.  She had three miscarriages, and chose to adopt her daughter.  Gibson asked if it was a curse or a blessing to have had an adopted daughter of Walters, who commented that she was born of her heart, not her womb.  As a pregnant woman, who has just lost a twin, with one remaining healthy baby, I think of how amazing a woman such as Walters would go through three miscarriages, three marriages to boot, and choose to adopt a daughter.  I’m proud of her - truly proud that she has lived her life with such amazing professional accomplishment but also found a way to have a child.   Her daughter says that no matter what, Walters was there for her.  Pretty impressive considering the daughter’s involvement with drugs. 

On other women interviewed by Gibson about Walters including Rosie, Oprah and Whoopi - they talked about the difficulty of being a trailblazing woman who made inroads, who wore all the scars, so that other women could go after her, perhaps on an easier journey although not for the faint of heart.  All of these women talked about the challenges of being a trailblazer - Whoopi talked about needing some big cahunas - or yes, balls, to be able to do all that she and others like her have done in their lives.

I’m always amazed at strong professional women, who regardless of marriage(s), failed or not, manage to have both profession and family - and wouldn’t want to be without one or the other.  There is an amazing perseverence in these women and I have witnessed this in many of my female clients who have become colleagues and in time, become close friends over the years.  I admire and salute all women trailblazers - for you do not have an easy road ahead of you - but you should be proud of the road behind you. 

Godspeed.

6th May 2008

Mother’s Day, Pregnancy & Al Gore in Columbus

It’s very early in the morning - I can’t sleep.  I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in I can’t remember how long.  With five animals, three of whom were/are aging, a young nocturnal romper-room cat, and a new dog - it’s been quite some time since I’ve slept through the night.  The funny thing about being a pet parent, especially to five animals, is that you are absorbed by how much care goes into animals as they get older especially if you or they fight to live as long as possible - but you just don’t get the respect of being a Mom, right?  I’ve lost two of those five pets this year and it was tragic - I cried, wailed, sobbed, you name it - I felt it.  I dream about them - I dream about Misha, the one remaining, whenever I lock him out of my room at night so I can try to sleep feeling guilty as he hangs on to life - So, as it’s labelled in the book MicroTrends - we are in the pet parent generation.  Heaven forbid we should have children, right? 

Ironically, despite having cats since I was 5, and dogs off and on throughout childhood, all I wanted was to be a Mom - I have a journal entry dating back to when I was 13 hoping to be a young grandmother so I’d know my grandchildren.  Scary then - but approaching the big 40-milestone, I’m happy to report that I’m pregnant, with twins, and approaching the first Mother’s Day with great excitement and yes, a little fear at times.  How can I protect these babies from all the bad chemicals, bad things - it’s God’s grace that we survive this world, right?  As a working person, non-parent, we are absorbed by the daily grind and not much else really - it’s all we do - work, sleep, live, love - repeat.  But as you approach genuine parent status you begin to really WORRY.  :-)  You read about a story here, a story there - and you realize how lucky you are to be healthy and of sound mind, sound body - I mean really lucky.  If only I can raise two sound, healthy babies to be good people, believe in God, and be productive citizens?  The things you begin to pray for at night.

I was in a store last week buying a pair of pants - must avoid maternity clothes at all costs until second trimester - ;-)  and the sales associate actually gave me my first Mother’s Day gift.  I wanted to hug her - she knew it too - but I refrained.  Not sure what I’m going to do with an amethyst necklace - perhaps a regift at Christmas?  I am surrounded by a lot of people who are extraordinarily supportive of my endeavors to be a Mom.  Mostly women, but also a few men who’ve known for years how much I desired to become a mother.  Some ask if it’s selfish to become a Mom - perhaps in some ways for some who think a particular way - but my answer to most - it’s the one thing that will change the way you think, the way you decide, the plans you make for the rest of your life - is that selfish?  I don’t think so.

There is more than just me, my job, my work, my life - there is something growing inside of me and it’s two tiny little babies.  I’ve seen them, heard them - pretty cool what technology does for the faint of heart at times.  I have proof, not just in camera form, but in video - yes, I actually took my camcorder into the doc’s office to record the heartbeats for real.  Loved it. 

There are some people who live for more than just themselves - and to switch from Mother’s Day to the Mother Earth.  I salute Al Gore for living beyond his own concerns but for the environment.  He came to Columbus on Sunday and I heard him speak.  He was great - not long-winded - and the latest prediction for the polar ice caps in the North - melting in the summer months to nothing - five years - five years left to do something drastic to affect change.  What are you doing for Mother Earth?  We all need to do more.  Go to www.wecansolveit.org and get involved.

There are three things that really tick me off right now - it’s watching oil company commercials about what they’re doing to “safely” explore into the oceans, Bush’s approval of oil drilling in the Alaskan wildlife refuge, and “talk” about gas prices and what we can do to offset them.  Why don’t we change our energy production policies and lifestyle?  Go figure.  AEP in Ohio - you need to do more for solar energy and wind power.  We need to produce energy this way - and put funding in this endeavor - no more coal, nuclear power development - where’s the wind and solar power?  Here’s a company that’s doing it right - investing in our future - solar power development.

I choose to have children, and to invest energy into our future - to make a change - to try to impact things in not just my lifetime but their lifetime in a positive way.  It’s not just going to their soccer games that matter - it’s doing something that perhaps they can’t always see - but can benefit from in the years to come - in a more tangible way - by enjoying what Mother Earth has to offer us.