Thread by @sewneo

WOMEN //a thread//

I was raised by all women.

My father had gotten my mother pregnant when she was just 15. His father
insisted on an abortion or he'd 'write my pops out of the will'. My pops bailed.

My mother raised me--and 4 siblings--mostly alone.

#HappyWomensDay2019

Mom's water broke in biology class. she finished HS--preggo--with me, in 1975. There's pictures of me as the little cheer squad mascot for the #RioLindaKnights.

As I grew up, I remembered the power and influence and wisdom of WOMEN in my life. My Great Grandmother was the key:

Great Grandma Florence had bought 3/4 of an acre in #NorthSac (w/ her husband), when acres were $5.00 ea. They couldn't afford a full one! Great Grandpa died & I never knew him.

Grandma was our true #MATRIARCH. She had a huge garden w/veggies on one side, flowers on the other.

The Property was a tiny homestead and GG was the keeper. She was #Gardening most everyday, there was a small orchard w/ berries & grapes & nuts & olives. They'd built the house from #WW1 gun crates. We found the proof when we redid the bathroom!

I wish I'd saved those crates.

It was GG who took my mother in--taught her cooking--taught her baking and canning... G-Grandma's kindness still vibrates thru the years--in my mind--she's still here.

She taught my mother about the loving example of #JesusChrist. She demonstrated it without any hypocritical BS.

When Great Grandma died unexpectedly, [CANCER],

...the family was smashed. I was too young to really understand.

This was my mother's "true mother". Her real mother was a mental case. That 'love' was selfish & broken. GG had pulled mamma in & trained her up to be a woman.

w/o that love & teaching & kindness--GG living her example of #Christ--our family wouldn't exist as it does today. She planted her seeds beyond her gardens & orchards. She planted them in my mother and my aunts' hearts.
And they planted them in ours.

#InternationalWomensDay

Things were different when GG was gone. Things were hard. She'd been a banner over us... We didn't know. We felt the blow after we'd lost her.

My mother, and my aunts, & my Grandfather's 2nd wife... They took up the slack. We learned to manage. And the #Women were our leaders.

I've had bad examples from men my whole life.

My father traded me for a chance at his father's fortune and approval. His father imagined me as 'greedy for his possessions', when I was yet forming in the womb.

My Step Father was manic depressive & schizophrenic. Not his fault.

...but still a bad model.

I learned how to 'love men' & 'be masculine' on my own.

I learned with the examples of the Women who raised and kept me.

They were long-suffering & kind, they were patient but stubborn too! They'd have to "put men in their place" & protect us all.

Even as a young man I could see the hypocrisy of the world.

If we were dead broke, and me and my aunt were trying to fix the car, and she was at the counter trying to get the new part...

The men would patronize and mock her. Sometimes they'd even try to cheat on the price!

Men always seemed inflated and faux-delicate to me...

I was subject to many private conversation among 'only' women. I attended baby showers & wedding showers & I learned to be a bit more feminine in my compassion and behaviors.

Men were loved, tolerated and not fully trusted.

They had earned this. Society had taught them this. Somehow we'd all been impressed with the idea that equality was fine as long as men were slightly more equal.

This forced the women to passively demonstrate that they could obtain more power by stealth if need be.

They did.

The men didn't even know! ...often they even took the credit. I took note--rolled my eyes--and learned to respect & fear women all the more.

The women who helped my mother--who were the living examples of my Great Grandmother--whom had raised me & corrected me... They were...

THEY WERE MISTREATED BY THIS WORLD.

There. I said it.

We're seeing the seeds of change I hope.

Maybe not in Radical Feminism... And certainly not in Rigid Conservatism.

But somewhere in between.

There's a chance for a new understanding of one another.

A chance to be grateful, & thankful & acknowledge the women in the world.

We can let them know we see all the #BULLSHIT,

...& that we appreciate them.

& we owe mostly everything to the kindness of women.

Their suffering brought us this far, & they were mostly quiet about it.

THANK YOU MAMMA, AND AUNTIES, AND ALL YOU OTHER WOMEN WHO DID SO MUCH FOR ME ALONG THE WAY...

#HappyWomensDay2019
#InternationalWomensDay

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