2008 February | Family Affairs and other matters

GO GIRLS!

28. February 2008

3 Comments

Sometimes a random email comes along that makes me cry….

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,

drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As

they talked about life, about marriage, about the

responsibilities of life and the obligations of

adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her

glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance

upon her daughter

‘Don’t forget your Sisters,’ she advised, swirling

the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. ‘They’ll

be more important as you get older. No matter how

much you love your husband, no matter how much you

love the children you may have, you are still going

to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now

and then; do things with them.’

‘Remember that ‘Sisters’ means ALL the women…

your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other

women relatives too. ‘You’ll need other women. Women

always do.’

What a funny piece of advice!’ the young woman

thought. Haven’t I just gotten married?

Haven’t I just joined the couple-world? I’m now a

married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely

my husband and the family we may start will be all I

need to make my life worthwhile!’

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact

with her Sisters and made more women friends each

year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,

she gradually came to understand that her Mom really

knew what she was talking about. As time and nature

work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,

Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world,

here is what I’ve learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don’t do what they’re supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT………

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how

many miles are

between you. A girl friend is never farther away

than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you

have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life

will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on,

praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on

your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the

valley’s end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk

beside you…Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,

daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,

Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended

family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn’t be the same without women, and

neither would I. When we began this adventure called

womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or

sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we

would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on

to all the women who help make your life meaningful.

I just did. Short and very sweet:

DORIS LESSING "THE GOLDEN NOTEBOOK"

27. February 2008

3 Comments

I have been reading “The Golden Notebook” sporadically for about a month. I have got about a quarter of the way through. It occurred to me today that I have absolutely no idea what is going on and who anybody is. I have decided to start again. This time I will try and concentrate and [...]