Mary, Queen of Scots

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On May 16, 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots made a desperate escape to England after her forces were defeated at the Battle of Langside. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of her downfall. What she hoped would be a refuge soon became a prison, ultimately leading to her execution in 1587.

Mary’s life was marked by political upheaval from the moment she was born. Crowned queen as an infant after the death of her father, King James V, her early years were spent away from Scotland. To secure an alliance between Scotland and France, she was sent to the French court, where she was raised in luxury and refinement. Her marriage to the Dauphin, Francis II, elevated her to Queen of France, but his early death forced her to return to Scotland in 1561—a land she barely knew.

Upon her arrival, Mary faced a deeply divided kingdom. Scotland had undergone a Protestant Reformation, and as a Catholic queen, she struggled to assert her authority over Protestant nobles and religious leaders. Despite her efforts to rule with tolerance, tensions between Catholic and Protestant factions led to increasing opposition. One of her most formidable adversaries was John Knox, the fiery Protestant reformer who openly challenged her reign.

Mary’s political struggles were compounded by her personal life. Her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, initially strengthened her claim to the English throne, but soon deteriorated into scandal. Darnley proved to be arrogant and unstable, and their relationship became tumultuous. His mysterious murder in 1567, widely believed to have been orchestrated by nobles, cast suspicion on Mary. Her subsequent marriage to James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, the man suspected of Darnley’s murder, led to an outcry from Scottish nobles and the public. Accused of conspiracy and unable to quell the rebellion, Mary was forced to abdicate in favor of her infant son, James VI.

The Battle of Langside: A Queen’s Last Stand

The Battle of Langside, fought on May 13, 1568, was a defining moment in Mary’s struggle to reclaim her throne. After escaping imprisonment at Lochleven Castle, she gathered a force of around 6,000 men, intending to march to Dumbarton Castle, a strategic stronghold.

However, her half-brother, James Stewart, Earl of Moray, who ruled as Regent for James VI, was prepared. Moray’s forces, though smaller in number (around 4,000 men), were strategically positioned and led by some of Scotland’s most experienced commanders.

Mary’s forces attempted to advance through Langside, a village south of Glasgow, but Moray’s army blocked their path. The battle was fierce but short-lived—lasting only about 45 minutes. Moray’s well-disciplined troops, supported by William Kirkcaldy of Grange, a skilled military strategist, outmaneuvered Mary’s forces. The Queen’s army suffered over 100 casualties, while Moray’s side lost only one soldier.

Defeated and with no safe refuge in Scotland, Mary fled south on that fateful day 457 years ago, seeking protection from her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England. Instead of receiving aid, she was imprisoned for nearly 19 years, ultimately leading to her execution in 1587. The Battle of Langside was not just a military defeat—it sealed Mary’s fate, forcing her into exile and captivity. After her execution, she left behind a legacy of political intrigue, tragic misfortune, and an enduring connection to Britain’s royal line.

Sources:

• Wikipedia
• Mary Queen of Scots History

Joan of Arc on May 7, 1429

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I recently started watching a 5-part documentary series called Warrior Women on Amazon Prime. It is narrated by Lucy Lawless (who played Xena: Warrior Princess on the show of the same name). Her first story was about Joan of Arc. I've always been fascinated by this young woman, who somehow managed to lead armies into battle only to end up burned at the stake.

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Imagine a city teetering on the edge of defeat, surrounded by enemies, its people losing hope. Enter Joan of Arc—a teenage peasant with an unshakable belief in her divine mission, clad in armor, leading an army into battle with unwavering conviction. What happened on May 7, 1429, was nothing less than extraordinary.

The Siege of Orléans: A Leader Like No Other

By the time Joan arrived at Orléans, the English siege had lasted over seven months. The city was starving, morale was crumbling, and surrender seemed inevitable. But Joan—just 17 years old, fiercely determined, and radiating an almost supernatural charisma—believed she was sent by God to drive the English out of France.

Though many doubted her, she refused to be dismissed. She convinced Charles VII, the hesitant French king, to let her lead an army—a decision that would change everything. This was not just about military strategy. This was about hope.

The Storming of Les Tourelles: Joan’s Defining Moment

On May 7, 1429, Joan led a daring assault on the English stronghold of Les Tourelles, a fortress guarding the entrance to Orléans. With her banner held high, she rallied troops like no other leader could. Her presence on the battlefield was electrifying, not just because she fought, but because she inspired.

As the battle raged, Joan was struck by an arrow, falling to the ground. Anyone else might have retreated, but Joan was not anyone else. She insisted on returning to the fight, despite the injury, charging forward with renewed determination. Her soldiers—previously disheartened—matched her energy, overwhelming the English forces.

By nightfall, the French claimed victory. The next day, the English abandoned their siege. Joan had not only won a battle—she had transformed the war.

Why This Day Mattered

Joan’s triumph at Orléans was not just a military success—it was a psychological victory for France. The tide of the Hundred Years’ War began to shift. Over the next few months, Joan continued to lead armies, paving the way for Charles VII’s coronation.

But her rise was meteoric—and dangerous. Her unwavering faith and unorthodox leadership made her both revered and feared. In 1431, she was captured and burned at the stake as a heretic. Yet even in death, she remained resolute, refusing to renounce her visions.

Centuries later, she was canonized as a saint.

Joan of Arc was not just a warrior—she was a visionary, a leader, and a woman who defied every expectation. Her sheer conviction, courage, and refusal to accept defeat made May 7, 1429, a day that changed history.

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International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day. Women make up more than half of the population, but in most countries are underrepresented and continue to be treated poorly due to domestic violence and abuse. The patriarchy is alive and well, and while women have made some advances in the last 100 years, it is good to remember that women couldn't have their own credit cards in the United States until the 1970s, they couldn't vote until the 1920s, and continue to have to fight the government, ignorance, and complacency simply for control over their own bodily functions.

We've come a long way, baby, but we've still got a long way to go, and many would like to see us go backwards. 

To celebrate the day, I thought I'd offer up some local history about women who have made great impact here. I'm using a book called Notable Women West of the Blue Ridge 1850-1950 for my source.

Lucy Breckinridge is celebrated locally because she kept a journal during the US Civil War. She began a diary on August 11, 1862. Her journals are one of the few documents we have about how women thought and were treated during that time. She was a wealthy upper-class woman, complete with servants, but she died at the age of 22 of typhoid fever, just after the Civil War ended. Her diary has been published and can be purchased on Amazon and other places.

Callie Wright of Troutdale, Virginia (which is not that close to me but is a rural community), is the first woman mayor in the Commonwealth. She served from 1930-1934. She was born in 1894 and died in 1986. She worked at the First National Bank. The town was facing bankruptcy and dissolution as a town when Wright took over as mayor. By the time her term ended, the town's debts had been paid and the community again took pride its town.

Martha Louisa Cocke grew up at Hollins Institute (later Hollins College and now Hollins University, my alma mater), and graduated from the college in 1874 with diplomas in English literature, French, history, Latin, mathematics, and natural science. She assisted in the administration of the college and taught English, French, German, and Mathematics there. She was named president of Hollins Institute in 1901.  She served for 32 years. During that time the school changed its name to Hollins College and built a theater and gymnasium and later erected another dozen new structures. She was the first woman college president in Virginia.

Georgia Meadows (1903-2001) was a Black woman in my county. She received education at Hughes Hill School, a one-room elementary school located here. She left the county to attend Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute (now Virginia State University) in Petersburg. She graduated with a BS in Education in 1922 and went on to earn a master's degree in Education from Columbia University in New York City. She also attended the University of Virginia, Northwestern University in Chicago, and worked on her Ph.D. in Education at Harvard. She returned to her home community where she taught school for 48 years. She was a consultant to the school administration with regards to education plans for the Black community. Additionally, she served as vice president of Total Action Against Poverty, served on the board of League of Older Americans, and organized the Fincastle Senior Citizens Club. In 1973, the US Federation of Colored Women's Clubs awarded her Clubwoman of the Year.

Viola Wick Painter (1904-1981) of this county was a music educator and choral director. She served as organist for the Fincastle Presbyterian Church for 32 years and for St. Mark's Episcopal Church for 27 years and directed the Fincastle Methodist Church Choir for 7 years. (I guess she didn't care about the differences in denominations!) She was President of the Botetourt County Red Cross for 10 years. (This woman would have been a distant cousin of mine. Unfortunately, I never met her. I know her grandchildren, though.)

Mary Johnston (1870-1936) was a novelist from my county. Her first book, Prisoner of Hope, was published in 1898. In 1899, her second novel, To Have and To Hold, was an overwhelming success - it was the best-selling book in 1900 - and the book was made into silent films in 1918 and 1921. She believed in equal rights for women and was a suffragette. She was the first woman to ever address the Virginia Legislature when it was in session, where she advocated for the right to vote. She wrote 23 novels and multiple short stories and articles. Some of her books can be found on Amazon.

Of course, to my mind (journalist that I was) every woman - every person - has a story and has contributed something to his or her community, even if it wasn't meant to benefit others! (I know some people like that.) Billions of people have lived on this planet, and at least half of them were female.

They - we - (and I) - have voices that deserve to be heard, acknowledged, and understood.

Thursday Thirteen

Since it is National Women's History Month, I'm going to list 13 of my teachers/professors who influenced me. Most are still alive, but they are part of MY history. They were all influential in some way. Some of them are influencing me still.

In no particular order:

Tina Weiner

1. Tina Weiner. Tina was my high school math teacher for Algebra 1, II, and Trig and now she is my friend. I don't remember anything she taught me, even though I was a straight-A student, which is probably a crime, but I don't do (x+y)-(z-t)=Q very often. We are in touch frequently and I value our relationship more than she will ever know.

2. Jeanne Larsen. Jeanne has a new book coming out called What Penelope Chooses, a book of poems that won the 2017 Cider Press Book Award. (Go preorder the book at the link.) Jeanne was my professor at Hollins College (now Hollins University) and she taught me a great deal not only about writing, but about myself. She influenced me in ways still undetermined and even now influences me simply by continuing to write and be productive and with lively and interesting Facebook posts.



Dee Sheffer

3. Dee Sheffer. Dee was my English teacher in 10th grade in high school. I still see her occasionally when I am out and about, but not often. She greatly influenced my work and was very encouraging of my writing abilities at a time when I was pretty much one of those broken teenagers that need support. Hey, it happens. We're friends on Facebook and seem to share similar political philosophies.

4. Amanda Cockrell. Amanda is another of my Hollins professors who influenced me and my writing. I had Amanda for masters' courses - several of them. She taught me about the trickster stories and reminded me that children's literature has multiple layers and many levels of philosophy upon which to ponder if one is so inclined. Amanda's a Facebook friend now and I enjoy her posts, too.

5. Mrs. Mildred Wright. She was my second grade teacher. She was very stern but she taught me to read with inflection and recognized that I have the ability to be a leader long before I ever thought about such a thing. (She'd send me over to watch the 1st grade class, back when a teacher could leave an hour early and a second grader could be sent over to read a book about dinosaurs to the class until the bell rang.)

6. Mrs. Fairfax. She was my third grade teacher, and she taught me how to ignore race even though I don't think she intended to do that. One of my strongest memories involves an angry father who went to the parent-teachers meeting to find out I had a black teacher when I'd told him there were no black teachers in the school. I never saw her color; she was my teacher and a person. (My father said I lied to him, but to me it was not a lie.)

7 & 8. Nancy Dahlstrom. Nancy was another Hollins professor whom I held in high esteem. She taught art. I took two classes from her, a drawing course over the summer and a "creative imagination" class that she co-taught with Cathy Hankla, another Hollins professor and published writer whom I admire. (Sure wish I'd aged as well as Cathy has!) The class combined writing and art. Both women taught me to see beyond the norm, to see the space in between, and to believe in myself.

9. Jeanne Kiker. Mrs. Kiker taught 7th grade English and I thought the world of her. She ran the school newspaper at that time and made me editor of it, something that probably foretold my future except I wasn't paying attention then. She was always very kind.

10. Mrs. Lanning. Mrs. Lanning taught me in the fourth grade and while frankly I have a lot of bad memories about that year, the thing that stands out is that this is where I learned that hugs are okay. In fact, Mrs. Lanning asked specifically for my parents to come to a parent-teacher conference and it wasn't my grades they discussed, but the fact that I was withdrawn and it had taken her six months to be able to hug me. I don't suppose teachers hug their students today but I am forever grateful for her patience in drawing me out of my shell.

11. Dr. Connie Shotts. She was my senior English teacher in high school and nominated for the English award, which I won. She did not stay at Lord Botetourt long and insisted we call her "Dr. Shotts" because she had a Ph.D. However, she had us read all of the classics and this was an advanced placement course that also counted as a college level English class, so she gave me a solid background in multiple areas that has stood the test of time. Because of her, I can understand references to old books in new works, and that is of great value because one can miss out on a lot if those sorts of things slide by without a thought.

12. Miss All. Miss All taught geometry in high school, and while it was not my best subject (even though I still received mostly As), I did find Mrs. All to be a very wonderful teacher. She probably doesn't remember it, but she gave me a book that greatly influenced me called Alas Babylon, by Pat Frank. That book still ranks as one of my all-time favorites and its message is still valid today, if a little dated.

13. Marilyn Moriarty. Professor Moriarty taught me a semester at Hollins, and was the first professor ever (actually the only one, I think), who encouraged me to write sonnets. I don't write sonnets often now but she did give me a love of form poetry, such as villanelles and sestinas. They are hard to write but loads of fun, rather like working a poem puzzle. Every now and then I try my hand at one simply for fun.

There you go. Do you remember you teachers? Thank you to all of these women who have had such great influence over my life, both in personal and career growth. May you all be blessed.


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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 594th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

No Laughing Matter

Last Friday as my husband and I shopped at a local grocery store for a few items to get us through the weekend, I experienced something weird and out of the ordinary.

My husband was pushing the cart, and he suddenly veered away from me, calling back over his shoulder that he needed to pick up soft drinks. Far down the aisle a woman was on a small ladder putting drinks up on the top shelf, and an older man, in a plaid shirt and blue jeans, passed her and then my husband.

I caught his gaze and he held it for just a beat too long. The next thing I knew, he was unbuckling his belt and then his hand was at his zipper.

I turned around and walked about five steps in the opposite direction. My instincts were shrieking that something was very wrong here, but my analytic self was saying he's just tucking in his shirt. I turned back around to see if my husband was returning to me and the guy was still standing there with his pants unzipped and his belt unbuckled. I didn't really see anything, but it was unnerving. He was leering and smirking, this perverted man.

As soon as my husband reached me and I spoke to him, the guy moved past us and I watched him leave without making a purchase, making a beeline for the parking lot.

It took me a while to straighten my thoughts out as to what had happened. I did not tell my husband about it until we were in the parking lot, as I was looking around to see if I could see Mr. Pervert.  The man was nowhere to be found. My husband was upset and frustrated with me for not saying something immediately. Ultimately, I went to the manager and asked that they review their security tapes and take whatever action they deemed appropriate.

This distressed me somewhat me because I have had a good deal of sexual harassment in my life, from when I was young on into adulthood. I have trouble dealing with males who are full of themselves and overtly patriarchal. So while in the grand scheme of things this is a minor incident, it still had an unsettling affect on me.

I felt violated, really.

That was bad enough, but then, in a sort of social experiment, I posted about it on Facebook. I knew what I was doing when I posted it (I essentially set a trap and a lot of people fell right into it - of their own free will, I hasten to add). Here we are in the new world of #metoo, when stories of sexual harassment and assault are mainstream and women are coming forward to say that the things we endure are not right. And what was the response I got? Teasing from males who said stupid things about the incident, and comments from some women about how they'd have laughed and pointed at Mr. Pervert as having a small penis, or something to that effect.

Some of the comments were proper, loaded with outrage and concern. By and large, it was split by those I know to be of one political party and those of another, and by gender. I had a number of private messages from people (women) who were aghast at the comments and very glad that I finally called out the commenters for continuing the legacy of rape culture. Only one person apologized, a man, who agreed he had been insensitive.

Here is the Facebook thread, which I captured Saturday before my computer modem died and I was unable to continue the conversation. Female names are blocked out with pink, male names by blue. I don't want to embarrass anyone in particular, but I do want people to think about what they are doing and saying. Nothing was funny about this minor incident, nothing at all.

Thursday Thirteen

Today is International Women's Day, so I thought I'd list 13 notable women from my area. Some are no longer with us; some are.

1. Lucy Breckinridge. Lucy Breckinridge lived during the Civil War and penned a record of her day to day life on Grove Hill Plantation, located just outside of Fincastle, VA. Her diary is one of the best-known volumes about women's life during this period of American History. You can read a little more about her and the book here.

2. Martha Louisa Cocke. This woman, also known as Matty Cocke, was born in 1855 in Botetourt County. Her father, Charles Lewis Cocke, was superintendent of the Female Seminary at Botetourt Springs, a facility which later became Hollins College and then Hollins University. Cocke helped her father administer the college and she taught English, French, German and Math. She was named President of the Institute on May 4, 1901, and was Virginia's first female college president. The school was renamed Hollins College in 1911, under Matty Cocke's stewardship.

3. Mary Johnston. She was a popular writer in the early 20th century. Her most famous novel was To Have and To Hold, which was also made into movies. She was also a suffragist and was the first woman to address the Virginia General Assembly.

4. Lucy Addison. She was an African American educator and has a school named after her in Roanoke, VA (Addison Aerospace Magnet Middle School).  She taught in the Roanoke City Public Schools for 31 years and in 1917 she was named principal of Harrison School, which was the largest state accredited school for African Americans in Virginia to have a female principal. She was also a community activist.

5. Judge Mary R. Painter. Judge Painter presided over traffic court in Botetourt County, VA and was well known to locals as being tough on those who broke the law. Her court was one to avoid. She served from 1934 to 1967 and the only Judge of the County Court for 33 years. She was also the first and only woman in Virginia to hold this position. (Disclaimer: I am a cousin of this woman.)

6. Sharon McCrumb. McCrumb is a best selling author who lives not far from me. She is the author of at least 27 books.

7. P. Buckley Moss. Moss is a famous artist whose museum headquarters is about an hour's drive from me and she lives about an hour from me in the other direction. She is known for colorful landscapes and old-timey looking paintings and offers limited edition prints. (I own several.)

8. Ann Compton. Compton is a former news reporter and White House correspondent for ABC. She graduated from Hollins College and went to work for local station of WDBJ7.

9. Jeanne Larsen. Larsen is a professor at Hollins University (unless she's retired and I'm not aware of it, which is entirely possible). She has published several novels, poems, books of poetry, and essays. She was my favorite undergraduate professor.

10.  Amanda Cockrell. Cockrell is another of my professors at Hollins University, where she established the MFA in Children's Literature Program. She is the author of 12 novels, including a young adult book named one of the best children's books in 2011.

11. Cathryn Hankla. Hankla is another professor at Hollins University (yes, there is a theme here, Hollins is my alma mater) who has published 14 books, many of them poetry.

12. Nancy Dahlstrom is a retired Hollins University professor and artist who lives in Botetourt County, VA.

13. Me. I'm not necessarily notable or important, but I live here and have contributed a great deal to my community through my writing for various local publications (over 10,000 articles in 35 years) and through my work with historic preservation and rural planning and growth. Since I retired I am not as well-known as I used to be, since my name isn't in the paper every week, but I still have the ear of well-placed people and am often asked to advise on various and sundry subjects.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 540th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Athena, Artemis, and Demeter

My brother surprised me this Christmas with small statues (about 7 inches high) made of alabaster stone that a craftsman in Greece created to represent my three favorite Greek goddesses: Athena, Artemis, and Demeter.

He got the idea from something I'd written about having a statue with the three goddesses on it as a response to a question in one of the memes I do. Plus at the time I was pretty consumed with Wonder Woman and the whole idea of female empowerment. Well, I am always consumed by that idea but it was especially prominent after I saw the Wonder Woman movie.

The craftsman's name is Malamatenia Skoylikari (I think) and he sells items on ebay under greekartshop. He has a set of three Greek gods, and a larger statue of Athena, as well as a set of the 12 Greek gods/goddesses which are similar to what I have. The works are made with molds, according to the ebay site.

 I have no idea how exactly my brother found this man, but he contracted with him to make these for me.

Here are pictures, which I took with my cellphone:

In the classical period of Greek mythology, Artemis was often described as the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. She was the Hellenic goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity and protector of young girls, bringing and relieving disease in women; she often was depicted as a huntress carrying a bow and arrows.  The deer and the cypress were sacred to her. She is often called the goddess of the hunt.

The goddess Athena represented the disciplined, strategic side of war, in contrast to her brother Ares, the patron of violence, bloodlust, and slaughter—the raw force of war. Athena was believed to only support those fighting for a just cause and was thought to view war primarily as a means to resolve conflict. In her aspect as a warrior maiden, Athena was also known as Parthenos, which means "virgin", because she was believed to have never married or taken a lover. As the patroness of heroes and warriors, Athena was believed to favor those who used cunning and intelligence rather than brute strength. She is known as the goddess of wisdom.

Demeter is often described simply as the goddess of the harvest; however, she presided also over the sacred law, and the cycle of life and death. She is one of the earliest known goddesses and her story of her search for her daughter Persephone explains the change of seasons.

This was a great present. Way to go, brother!

Toys They Aren't

Lately, I have found myself perusing the toy section at the local Walmart. Since I have no children and all of my nephews and my niece are beyond the toy age, the only reason I am there is for myself.

This started with the Wonder Woman film, which thrilled me and acted as a balm across my weary, battered soul. I am tired of seeing women in roles on TV that leave them helpless, silly, or less-than any human with a penis. It also brought back a lot of fond memories of reading comic books and playing with little action figures. It also reminded me of the 1990s, when I could watch Xena: Warrior Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Captain Kathryn Janeway on the Starship Voyager kick butt and take names. Those strong fantasy female role models slipped away after 9/11. (There is a good research paper in there for a college-level class.)

This new interest in toys began as I slid past the toy section as I always had, with barely a glance. Then, to my surprise, a display of Wonder Woman dolls stopped me in my tracks. These were the size of Barbie dolls, larger than I like. I always preferred the 6-8" action figures when I was growing up. I was never big on baby dolls (too sissy) but instead I liked GI Joe, the Johnny West series, and the first small action figure I remember, Action Jackson. These were followed by superhero figures, though I think I had outgrown many of those by the time they came around. My brother, I remember, had a pile of the original Star Wars figures.

Back to the toy department. I looked at the dolls. I wanted one. I am 54 years old, I thought to myself. You don't need a doll. Instead of buying the doll, I wandered the aisles. I ran across a series of Metal DieCast DC figures for $4.97. I bought a Wonder Woman and a Supergirl. (I also love the Supergirl TV show.) Ok, I thought. That's $10 for two things. Good enough.

My odd little metal superheroines,
with a spoon for size comparison.

After I saw the movie a second time (something I seldom do - I can't recall the last movie I saw twice at the theater), my husband and I slipped into Walmart to pick up some deodorant. Despite the fact that the toy section was all the way on the other side of the largest Walmart in the area, I limped over there. I stood in front of the Wonder Woman section.

My husband told me to buy the damned doll. I declined.

"You've looked at them three times that I know of," he said. "Which one do you like?"

I wanted one with the sword but all they had was one with the golden lasso, so I pointed at that one. He picked it up, put it in the cart, paid for it, and we came home with it.

My Barbie-sized Wonder Woman doll.

Today I was in Walmart and I looked at the toys even though I was short of time. I ran across a line of tiny little metal toys. They were 94 cents. Not even a dollar! The Wonder Woman looked cool. I tossed her in my shopping cart.

My very tiny Wonder Woman metal collectible.

But this is not really about my purchasing Wonder Woman items, though that is what has led me to this point. This is about the toys I see on the shelves. I am beyond shocked at the merchandising tie-ins with movies. The stock rotates with every new film. Wonder Woman, Spider Man, Beauty and the Beast. It rotates through once and then again with the films hit the DVDs. The toys are also weird looking. A lot of them have these huge heads and tiny little bodies. Many of them are Lego figures, which have no hands and are square and pixilated and incredibly creepy looking. They must also be quite popular.

The smaller action figures are in the boys' section. Larger action figures, the Barbie-sized ones, are in the girl's section. I do not know why. In the action figures, the manufacturers offer wrestling guys, lots of Marvel Comics characters, Superman, Batman, and a few female superheroes, like the Black Widow. No small Wonder Woman, though. I remember when Stars Wars: The Force Awakens came out, there was a little kerfuffle about the lack of a Daisy Ridley character. This was especially surprising since she was essentially the lead in the film.

I found toys that were remarkably familiar - puzzles, a Slinky, PlayDoh, and games like Sorry! Life! and Monopoly. I saw bubble-blowing goo and bicycles. But most of the items being sold to children these days are simply commercial tie-ins, things to make money for movie stars and the movie studies, including Disney, Pixar, and the like.

I saw too that toys are still divided by gender. Without even thinking about it, I knew which aisle was for girls and which for boys (incidentally, in every store, there are more toys for boys. I don't know what that means but it means something.). The Barbies were on one aisle; the trucks on another.

A part of me wanted to redo the entire department, and mix it all up. Who says girls can't play with dump trucks, or boys with Barbies? How did the smaller action figures become relegated to the boys' section? Are girls supposed to only be happy with Bobble Headed Wonder Woman?

I think a visit to Toys R Us is in my future, if only to get a better sense of what the children are playing with these days. I don't understand the weird looking figures, the crazy Lego items, the completely unrealistic nature of some of the things I saw. I like fantasy, but I also like for it to make sense. A weird-looking little doll with a massive head makes no sense.

My Wonder Woman items, and Supergirl, will go up on the top shelf with my Xena action figure and my Charlie's Angel doll (the Drew Barrymore version). I will consider the collectibles.

I missed a lot of trends by not having children. Perhaps had I spent more time in the toy section, some of the things I see there today would not surprise me. But I always bought books for my niece and nephews. I did not buy them toys. I left that to their parents.

The merchandising tie-ins with movies troubles me. Childhood should not be so commercial. It should be a time of freedom, a time to see a movie and enjoy it. I don't recall ever seeing a movie as a child and then clamoring for the toy that tied in with it. However, now that I think about it, I know I received a watch that had Alice on it, for the Disney Alice in Wonderland movie.

I remember receiving a Batgirl doll that tied in with the old Batman show featuring Adam West. Gumbi, I think, was a cartoon character. Obviously by the time Star Wars hit this merchandizing tie-in was well in place, but I was a teenager by then and into books, music, and boys, not dolls.

As part of our capitalistic culture, it never occurred to me to question the merchandizing of everything. But I think it is past time that I did so.

Something about this whole affair troubles me. I can't quite put my finger on why it bothers me so, except that it is terribly exploitive. Expect to see me revisit this issue again.



Yes, I loved the movie. Yes, I will own
the DVD. I will watch it many times.
I will memorize the dialogue.
I am weird.

International Women's Day

Today, the annual International Women's Day, is a global day that celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, make International Women's Day a national holiday.

It isn't a national holiday in the United States. We don't celebrate women here. We castigate them, grab 'em where it counts, take away their reproductive rights, call them names, offer wolf whistles at them, offer non-support to one another because one woman might get something another doesn't have, and otherwise do little to enhance and develop the one half of the population that the other half cannot do without.

That's one side of it, anyway. I went to an all-women's undergraduate college whose motto was "Women Who Are Going Places Start at Hollins." In that environment, I heard no castigation, no catcalls, had no one grab me, and found support from teachers and fellow students unlike any that I had experienced. It remains my go-to place when I feel a need for support and encouragement. The campus is not far from me and sometimes I simply drive there and sit in the parking lot, watching the young women stroll across the grounds, backpacks flung behind them. The world is wide open to them.

I'd love to think they would find a better world - a better place - than I have. A place where jobs are welcoming and open, not stifling and under paid. A place where men treat women as human beings, not as objects. A place where the "male gaze," so prominent in movies and TV, has been eliminated. (The male gaze is the way in which the visual arts and literature depict the world and women from a masculine point of view, presenting women as objects of male pleasure. As an example, Hardee's commercials are good at this. That company, whose CEO was thankfully not named head of the federal Department of labor, has ads where voluptuous women in skin-tight clothing sit on a car and chow down on a hamburger like they're giving a guy a blow job.)

U.S. women frequently point to women in Arabic countries as counterpoints to indicate that we have come a long way, baby, but have we?

Women's rights are still denied in many parts of the world, where women live as second class citizens. In the US, men and women have the same legal rights, but we still experience discrimination against women on a large scale. While women in the United states may have the right to vote, but females are still discriminated against in terms of educational and career opportunities.

The pay gap, in particular, remains a problem in the United States. Gender gaps in labor force participation are associated with lower growth rates the world over.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a woman doing the same job as a man can expect to earn only 79% of what the male does if she works in the United States. In other words, for every $100 the man earns, the woman earns only $79. Over time, this adds up significantly, leaving the woman to have less Social Security income in her retirement years, as well as having fewer dollars to spend annually during her work life.

Fifty-seven percent of all women participate in the labor force. (Almost all women work at home, unpaid, doing laundry, taking care of sick children or parents, or simply being a mom. Staying at home ain't easy.) The most common jobs for women are secretaries/administrative assistants, teachers, and nurses. Among the top 25 most common jobs for women, being a CEO is not one of them.

Here's a little graphic of what has changed for U.S. women over the last 50 years:

One of those "helps," the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), is in the process of being repealed and "replaced" by the current Republican Administration. The new proposal, unveiled yesterday, is not being met with much pomp and circumstance even from within the GOP, so it remains to be seen how that will affect women if and when it passes. Obviously, Republicans will continue their war on women's reproductive rights and their ability to manage their own health care. Apparently some of the good ol' boys still believe women shouldn't run when they menstruate, or sweat, or otherwise exert themselves, for fear of a fainting spell a la Scarlett O'Hara. "Don't worry your pretty little head about it," a phrase I heard frequently growing up, seems to be the political mantra when it comes to the so-called fairer sex.

But we have to worry about it, because no one is going to care of me but me, just as no one is going to take care of you but you. I am fortunate to have a loving and respectful husband, but not everyone woman is. Lots of women are married to assholes who do not deserve them.

Nor will my husband live forever. Even though I am not healthy, the odds still favor my outliving him. Women outlive men by about five to six years. By age 85 there are roughly six women to every four men. It is important that women prepare for this eventuality, but lower wages make that harder than it needs to be.

Today women went on strike all over the globe. On articles about a school system in Virginia that shut down completely because so many teachers requested the day off, I saw comments from women (and men) that were the verbal equivalent to being spat upon. Why should women "strike," when they supposedly have everything, these commenters said.

Because they don't have everything. Statistics everywhere back that up. Women who think they have equality are sadly mistaken and have been misled into believing that because they are not suffering hardship, others do not, either. But I assure you, that is not the case. In my work as a news reporter, I saw plenty of women who were mistreated, underrated, underappreciated, and unloved. I sat in the trailers of single women who had lost their husbands who had nowhere to turn, and I held the hands of other women who cried because they'd just lost their jobs at the sewing factory in New Castle and had no clue what they would do next (that was back in the mid-1990s; we don't have textile factories here anymore). Life isn't pretty, and it can be downright ugly even for the most beautiful female.

And while I'm speaking of ugly, I will leave you with these ugly facts from the CDC (which stands to lose funding under the new Republican Administration, by the way) to ponder (hit the first link for the .pdf if this is hard to read):

One last thing: if you're a guy, would you want to be a woman? Think about that, and if the answer is no - then think about why not. List those. That list of "why nots" are the things that need to change.

Thursday Thirteen

Names of women that you should know.

1. Dolores Huerta, founder of the nation's largest farmworkers union. Born on April 10, 1930, Huerta co-founded the National Farmworkers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). Huerta has received numerous awards for her community service and advocacy for workers', immigrants', and women's rights, including the Eugene V. Debs Foundation Outstanding American Award, the United States Presidential Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

2. Ruby Bridges, one of the first black children integrated into an all-white school. She is now chair of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which she formed in 1999 to promote "the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences". Describing the mission of the group, she says, "racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it."

3. Edie Windsor, whose lawsuit against the federal government paved the way for marriage equality. In the 2013 landmark civil rights case, the United States Supreme Court held that restricting U.S. federal interpretation of "marriage" and "spouse" to apply only to opposite-sex unions, by Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), is unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Justice Kennedy wrote: "The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity."

4. Harriet Tubman, (1822 - 1913), was a former slave and spy who led hundreds of slaves to freedom.  She was an American abolitionist, humanitarian, and an armed scout and spy for the United States Army during the American Civil War. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some thirteen missions to rescue approximately seventy enslaved families and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. She later helped abolitionist John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry, and in the post-war era was an active participant in the struggle for women's suffrage.

5. Ida B. Wells, (1862 - 1931) iconic writer, activist, and suffragette. Wells was an African-American journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist, sociologist, feminist, and an early leader in the Civil Rights Movement. She was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.

6. Hillary Clinton, (1947 - ), former senator and secretary of state, and winner of the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election.

7. Rosa Parks, (1913-2005) was a seamstress trained in civil resistance who helped launch the Montgomery Bus Boycott. She was an American civil rights activist, whom the United States Congress called "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement".

8. Vera Rubin, (1928 - 2016), was an astrophysicist who confirmed the existence of dark matter. The American astronomer pioneered work on galaxy rotation rates. She uncovered the discrepancy between the predicted angular motion of galaxies and the observed motion, by studying galactic rotation curves. This phenomenon became known as the galaxy rotation problem. Although initially met with skepticism, Rubin's results were confirmed over subsequent decades. As described in her New York Times obituary, she "transformed modern physics and astronomy with her observations showing that galaxies and stars are immersed in the gravitational grip of vast clouds of dark matter. Her work helped usher in a Copernican-scale change in cosmic consciousness, namely the realization that what astronomers always saw and thought was the universe "is just the visible tip of a lumbering iceberg of mystery."

9, 10, and 11. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor, who hold it down for women in the judicial branch. Stick with it, ladies!

12. Kathrine Switzer, (1947 - ) was the first woman to enter the Boston Marathon. This occurred in 1967. It was not until 1972 that women were welcome to run the Boston Marathon officially.

13. Elizabeth Blackwell, (1821 - 1910), was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. The British-born physician was also the first woman on the UK Medical Register. She was the first woman to graduate from medical school, a pioneer in promoting the education of women in medicine in the United States, and a social and moral reformer in both the United States and in the United Kingdom. Her sister Emily was the third woman in the US to get a medical degree.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 486th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Thursday Thirteen: Honoring Women

Today I thought I'd offer up a little glimpse at 13 women who have impacted my life. My mother has passed on, so I am going to celebrate Mother's Day this year by celebrating ALL women here today.

Their numbers are legion, so 13 doesn't begin to cover every woman who has impacted my life.

Mom

1. My mother. For better or worse, it's always Mom who has the top spot. My mother worked at the same job for 30 years, beginning when she was 16 as a file clerk. We moved to a farm when I was 7 years old. I think she hated every minute of it, but she learned to garden, can food, and chase cows with the best of 'em. She was 18 years old when I was born, so she was a young mother. She really didn't have time to grow up before I was there. She taught me, most of all, to stand by my husband and support him. My mother died in 2000 from pancreatic cancer.



Grandma

2. My grandmother. My mother's mother was also a great force in my life. Grandma kept me from the time I was about two years old until I started school, and then during the summers until I was around 13. She also took care of me when I was sick; Mom would drop me off on her way to work. Grandma raised six children and took care of numerous grandchildren. Every Friday she would walk up to her sister's house and do her hair. She taught me the meaning of family, I think. Grandma died in 2007.

Aunt Susie

3. Aunt Susie kept me when I was a wee babe; she used to love to point out the windowsill I once chewed on and left teeth marks. I wonder if they are still there? Aunt Susie had no children of her own but raised stepchildren. She and Uncle Carl were collectors and her house was a treasure-trove full of dolls, salt shakers, and model cars. She loved to crochet and when she was in her 80s she made afghans "for the old people" to have at nursing homes. That's the way to grow old, eh?

Aunt Carolyn

4. Aunt Carolyn is my mother's sister. She and I are a lot alike; she likes computers and is very business-minded. I am like that too, except that gets tempered by my unusual creativity and passivity. Carolyn has more drive than I do, I think. She's very independent and pretty much a straight-shooter when it comes to telling you what's what. She's going strong at 62 and I wish I had her methodology about work - and her health.

Aunt Jennifer

5. Aunt Jennifer married into the family, being my mother's brother's wife. She went back to nursing school as an older student and obtained her degree. Most recently she had bariatric surgery to help her with her weight, and I think that was a tough thing to do for someone nearing 60. She has goals and dreams and goes after them. She also stepped in and helped me tremendously when my mother was ill.

Grandma B.

6. My Grandma B., who lives in California, is not someone I knew well. The US is a big country and 2,000 miles are not easily overcome. She visited a few times and I went to see her once. We talked on the phone a lot before she lost her hearing, though. She is now 93 years old and living in a nursing home. She was widowed over 20 years ago and hung in there. When I was 17, she and my grandfather visited and my grandmother and I had a little argument. Later, when I apologized, she told me, "That's okay. You didn't hurt me, only my feelings." I have never forgotten that particular lesson, that you are not your feelings. They are two very different things. I thought that was a good life-lesson and one that has served me well.

My mother-in-law

7. My mother-in-law has been a steadfast anchor for her family for the entire time I've been an in-law. She worked outside the home at a good job until her retirement about 10 years ago. She supported her husband, who passed away in 2010, in everything he attempted. She has bounced back from his loss in an admirable way and has created a whole new life for herself. I really am impressed by her ability to do that - not every woman can. She also was an exemplary patient when she broke her hip a number of years ago. She did everything the doctors and nurses told her to do with scarcely a complaint, and was soon back at home taking care of life again. She is faithful in her religion and loves her children and grandchildren fiercely. She has taught me the meaning of quiet strength.

My friend L., who hates
to be photographed

8. My friend L. has been my cheerleader and supporter for more than 30 years. She has held my hand during bad times, offered me encouragement when I needed it, and applauded my efforts to return to school and obtain my degrees. L. has taught me how to be a friend, and that's an important thing to know.

9 & 10. I wrote on Tuesday about two of my teachers, Tina Weiner and Dee Sheffer, and how influential they have been in my life. They both supported me throughout high school, which was a difficult time for me (as it is for most of us), and helped me become the woman I am today. I can name other teachers who were influential in my life, too: Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Lanning, Mrs. Kiker, Mrs. Kidd, Mrs. Thompson, and Ms. All come quickly to mind. Kindness goes a long way - they were all nice to me.

Amanda (l) and me.

11 & 12. Two of my college professors were also instrumental in molding me: Jeanne Larsen and Amanda Cockrell. Jeanne taught me several classes at Hollins and I write as well as I do because of her. She offered me amazing support when I was struggling and her belief in my abilities strengthened my resolve at a time when I needed it most. Amanda taught me writing courses when I went back for my masters degree and encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone. I stay in touch with both of them and they are terrific role models. My teachers have always been people I look up to and respect. I can't thank them enough for their support.

13. Every other woman I know. Gosh, there are so many. My sisters-in-laws, Jennifer and Dina. My niece, Zoe, who at 12 has shown me perseverance. Too many cousins to list. My friends: Brenda, Teresa, Jules, Lisa, Beth, Cathy, B.J., Inga, Dreama, Sudie, Bobbie Lou, Monty, and hundreds of others who have impacted me in one way or another. Even women I never speak to, whom I see juggling children and shopping carts in the store, have an impact on me. Every woman writer I have ever read has left her mark - so thank you Carolyn Keene, Jane Austin, Laura Ingalls Wilder, L. M. Montgomery, Janet Evanovich, Jane Smiley, Sue Grafton, the Bronte' sisters, Sharon Old, Nora Roberts, and hundreds more.

I applaud you all, young, old, weak and strong. Thank you for being you.

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 343rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.