Strong Women
My family is going through some trying, difficult times. And yet, I sit here with a general feeling of complacency (aside from the work that is piling up beside me). This isn't to say that I'm completely devoid of emotion, or that I couldn't care less about my family. The reason that I'm able to continue along my path of existence with relatively few bumps is the result of some extremely strong women.
My Aunt Marcia (the fourth of six children on my mother's side of the family) is going through cancer treatment right now for a major tumor in her leg. We just found out about this a few months ago, and she began chemotherapy around a month ago. Her strength and resolve is nothing short of astounding. She keeps the optimistic perspective, works hard to recover, discusses the experience with humor, and works to overcome it with strength. How easy it would be for her to succumb to laziness, self-pity, and apathy... but she moves forward with such vigor.
My Aunt Leslie (three of six), is coping with her son's arrest for drug use and possession. She's filling in as an incredible presence for his daughter (her granddaughter) on a daily basis. How, I have no idea. She writes e-mails to all of us about the ordeal with a resolve and intelligence that can only come with years of wisdom.
And my mother (the youngest daughter-five of six) stands by both of them, working tirelessly to research urban development and the effect it has on the ecosystem of Phoenix while finding some time (where, I don't know) to visit her recovering sister in San Francisco, her fiancee in New Mexico, and to put both of her children through college.
I wish I could say I don't know where this all comes from, but I do- Grandma. She must be eighty-five by now, but she's the first one up every day, constantly sending e-mails and wishes to the entire family, her extended family, her friends, and people she's met only once. It seems like such a burden to be the source of strength for so many people, but Grandma and her daughters blaze through the trail with relative ease, as though they are feeding off some energy that would drain anyone else.
I've never realized how amazing these women are--they were always amazing people, but never in these respects. I guess it takes the worst to bring out the best in people, but I can see now just how strong my mother's family is.
The woman of my future has a lot to live up to...
My Aunt Marcia (the fourth of six children on my mother's side of the family) is going through cancer treatment right now for a major tumor in her leg. We just found out about this a few months ago, and she began chemotherapy around a month ago. Her strength and resolve is nothing short of astounding. She keeps the optimistic perspective, works hard to recover, discusses the experience with humor, and works to overcome it with strength. How easy it would be for her to succumb to laziness, self-pity, and apathy... but she moves forward with such vigor.
My Aunt Leslie (three of six), is coping with her son's arrest for drug use and possession. She's filling in as an incredible presence for his daughter (her granddaughter) on a daily basis. How, I have no idea. She writes e-mails to all of us about the ordeal with a resolve and intelligence that can only come with years of wisdom.
And my mother (the youngest daughter-five of six) stands by both of them, working tirelessly to research urban development and the effect it has on the ecosystem of Phoenix while finding some time (where, I don't know) to visit her recovering sister in San Francisco, her fiancee in New Mexico, and to put both of her children through college.
I wish I could say I don't know where this all comes from, but I do- Grandma. She must be eighty-five by now, but she's the first one up every day, constantly sending e-mails and wishes to the entire family, her extended family, her friends, and people she's met only once. It seems like such a burden to be the source of strength for so many people, but Grandma and her daughters blaze through the trail with relative ease, as though they are feeding off some energy that would drain anyone else.
I've never realized how amazing these women are--they were always amazing people, but never in these respects. I guess it takes the worst to bring out the best in people, but I can see now just how strong my mother's family is.
The woman of my future has a lot to live up to...
posted by Fish at 9:57 PM
3 Comments:
wow, you are WAY too kind. But I am glad that you admire, rather than fear, strong women. What that means is that you feel comfortable around them, and that's a very attractive attribute in a man, IMHO
OK MR.,
you left one incredible woman out of the Grimm-sister-stronghold...
She is currently still recovering from a serious lung surgery-involving a portion of her lung being removed from her body. She has been an amazing grandma to her two grandsons-whom never see her due to a two hour distance. She has to deal with some crazy smart ass socialist 19 year old daughter who constantly complains about living in this country (and not to mention costs $22,000 a year to put through school). And an ungrateful and LOUD 10 year old son who won't eat anything green. At the same time she strives to put up with her really intelligent/no common sense husband and his perscription pill/drama addicted family, while trying to absorb every last cubic centimeter of her younger sisters' "coolness" and ongoing "absences" due to 100-4,592 mile distances.
Not to mention, come november, will be 61 years old.
WOW
-SB (from the boring and grey midwest)
Not to mention the fact that she doesn't complain about any of this, leaving me completely clueless about the goings on in her life.
I stand corrected, cuz.
ian
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