Letter to my Daughters

Dear Jadyn and Liana:

I'm glad you were sleeping Saturday afternoon. I'm glad your little eyes were closed shut and your breathing was slow and deep and restful. I'm glad.

Because just one floor below, I couldn't keep it together. As Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke about being a woman, who ran for president, and lost the bid and cracking the glass ceiling, I was a blubbering mess.

Because of you.

It stopped being about me long ago.

All too soon you will learn what it is like to walk around this country -- this earth -- as a young woman. This is no small endeavor. There will be obstacles. You will find yourself in predicaments. You must be smart.

We must stick together. We must stand up for each other. We must try and stick together. We must cheer for each other.

And, strong women, my girls, stand alone. You must know this. You must be prepared. You must stand strong. And never falter. Ever.

Mrs. Clinton said it best:

Now, on a personal note, when I was asked what it means to be a woman running for president, I always gave the same answer, that I was proud to be running as a woman, but I was running because I thought I'd be the best president. But...

But I am a woman and, like millions of women, I know there are still barriers and biases out there, often unconscious, and I want to build an America that respects and embraces the potential of every last one of us.

I ran as a daughter who benefited from opportunities my mother never dreamed of. I ran as a mother who worries about my daughter's future and a mother who wants to leave all children brighter tomorrows.

To build that future I see, we must make sure that women and men alike understand the struggles of their grandmothers and their mothers, and that women enjoy equal opportunities, equal pay, and equal respect.

Let us ... Let us resolve and work toward achieving very simple propositions: There are no acceptable limits, and there are no acceptable prejudices in the 21st century in our country.

You can be so proud that, from now on, it will be unremarkable for a woman to win primary state victories ... unremarkable to have a woman in a close race to be our nominee, unremarkable to think that a woman can be the president of the United States. And that is truly remarkable, my friends.

To those who are disappointed that we couldn't go all of the way, especially the young people who put so much into this campaign, it would break my heart if, in falling short of my goal, I in any way discouraged any of you from pursuing yours.

Always aim high, work hard and care deeply about what you believe in. And, when you stumble, keep faith. And, when you're knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on.

As we gather here today in this historic, magnificent building, the 50th woman to leave this Earth is orbiting overhead. If we can blast 50 women into space, we will someday launch a woman into the White House.

Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it ... and the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time.

This is not the scrapbook I wanted to keep for you, dear daughters. But, nonetheless, you will have a scrapbook from this very historic election. Just be sure that it will include a little more than his-story. Her-story will be equally covered.

And, I hope it all leads to your own stories to cherish forever.

Thank you for visiting today.

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24 hours to go ...

Our Friday afternoon in preparation for this:


An after-nap cruise to the local campaign office to snag some stickers.


The local campaign office where volunteers ooohed and ahhed over us.


A flower for Hillary or for Mama or for whomever.


Giggly girls who forgot all about their stickers.


Blowing bubbles toward each other is the most fun we've had in a long time.

After a good hand washing, a filling dinner and a good night's sleep, we're off this afternoon to see a presidential candidate in real life.

Thank you for visiting today.

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I'm an emotional wreck

Just when I thought I had lost hope; that all hope was lost.

I woke to this news this morning: That Hillary Clinton will be visiting my town tomorrow, a Saturday of all days. Any other day it wouldn't work. But, a Saturday ... oh, my.

And, then this afternoon, I learned this: That Hillary Clinton will be visiting in my town in the very spot of the sidewalk where I walk my girls weekly. She will be just blocks from my home.

I am a teary mess of renewed hope and fear of rising hopes; of dreams and inspiring ambitions, of potential and real, significant change. This afternoon, I will walk Jadyn and Liana into the local campaign office and find something to wear for their first attempt at learning about the power of women.

But, what will we wear?? If only I had ordered T-shirts. Will we get close enough for her to see our future women leaders?

(And, to let you know how BIG this moment is for us here in PA my house has been visited and called on twice by Hillary volunteers in the last two hours).

Maybe there's a chance I'll get to do that scrapbook after all. Maybe, just maybe, someone who needs to know it, will learn that she is nice. (If that's what it will take to get a woman president -- for her to be nice than so be it.)

If not, at least I have these blog posts. And, drippy mascara on my face. And, two daughters who hopefully will get a better, more fair chance at the podium.

I will blog about the event tomorrow evening.

Thank you for visiting today.

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I tried repressing this post, but ...

If not now, when?

And, if not her, who?

These are the questions that have me Fuming. I'm on fire with anger.

When will be the best time to elect a woman president? Who could be a better president? And what will be the arguments against her?

Too bitchy? Too smart? Too aggressive? Too wimpy? Too emotional? Too what?

What?

Why not Hillary?

Why not?

Because she was married to Bill? Because she is strong? Because she is political. Controversial. Because she is smarter, more diplomatic and more globally respected than the current president?

Or, is it because she is a woman?

Why not her?

More importantly, who better to take on the highly paid men of Capitol Hill?

Who?

Because I can only think of one other woman who is strong enough, smart enough and willing to put their families and careers aside to take on the men of Washington and that is Nancy Pelosi, who right now is pretty busy in her new role. And, she, too is viewed as too Everything.

Aren't we all?

I'm too bossy. Too pushy. Too this and too that.

Politics intrigue me. They really do. I love watching Obama speak; he's a spin doctor, a Rhetoric man after my own heart. He speaks of great change. Change. We want change. "It's not about black or white. It's not about democrat or republican," he's said more than once.

These are the things I want to hear and he is saying them, he is singing them, he is preaching them from his podium day after day.

Well, what is it about then?

It's about bouncing back from a world of shame. It's about reviving our down-turned economy. It's about giving back American rights and freedoms. And, it's about restoring faith in our nation, again.

Sure, he can do this, and do it well. But, just about anyone could do a better job compared to our current president.

But, real change ... real, honest to goodness change, for me, is giving a woman -- a deliriously more-than-qualified, Yale graduate, fighter for human rights, intelligent WOMAN -- a chance.

Change, for me, means putting a woman, a mother, and a wife in that Oval Office instead of a man.

And, she is ready and waiting with all the power, experience, knowledge of public policy and the heart to serve this great country with every ounce of her being.

But, not now, no. Not Her. Gawd, no, not her.

So then ... who?


****

And, since I am no poet and since I am a mother, rising, I want to share this with you. If you won't listen to me, how about listening to Maya Angelou as printed in The Guardian Observer.

State Package for Hillary Clinton

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may tread me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

This is not the first time you have seen Hillary Clinton seemingly at her wits' end, but she has always risen, always risen, don't forget she has always risen, much to the dismay of her adversaries and the delight of her friends.

Hillary Clinton will not give up on you and all she asks of you is that you do not give up on her.

There is a world of difference between being a woman and being an old female. If you're born a girl, grow up, and live long enough, you can become an old female. But to become a woman is a serious matter. A woman takes responsibility for the time she takes up and the space she occupies. Hillary Clinton is a woman. She has been there and done that and has still risen. She is in this race for the long haul. She intends to make a difference in our country. Hillary Clinton intends to help our country to be what it can become.

She declares she wants to see more smiles in the family, more courtesies between men and women, more honesty in the marketplace. She is the prayer of every woman and man who longs for fair play, healthy families, good schools, and a balanced economy.

She means to rise.

Don't give up on Hillary. In fact, if you help her to rise, you will rise with her and help her make this country the wonderful, wonderful place where every man and every woman can live freely without sanctimonious piety and without crippling fear.

Rise, Hillary.

Rise.

Thank you for visiting today.

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