Cover me, I'm going in.

Cover me, I'm going in.

Well, how many times have I done this? Started to write and then quit. There are blogs out there on the interwebs that I've written then gave up, either running out of interesting content or my A.D.D. had kicked in. There are any number of journals, binders or digital files contain my ramblings...

I've spent the last several years trying to answer questions like, 

"What is your passion?"

"What do you want to do with your life?"

"If you could do anything, what would it be?"

The truth is, I'm 44 and I still don't know. I guess that blogs are often times the outlet for those of us in the throws of our mid-life crisis and don't have the money for new cars or the self esteem for sex with 19 year-olds. We feel compelled to figure out what happened to our lives, why some of us became the President of the United States and why some of us are living in this city we SWORE we'd get out of the second we could.

​I had an Oprah moment the other day and thought, I love stories. I love to read, listen to audiobooks, see movies... I love stories! Months ago I asked my cousin, a successful playwright, what her secret was. She said, "You just have to do it. You have to sit down every day and write. You just have to do the work."

You always hear that you should write about what you know. Well, I know that I came from a big, crazy, messed up, family. When I share childhood stories with people, they have a tendency to laugh and say, "No really! What happened?" Seriously people? I couldn't make this shit up.

I've been kicking around the idea of writing something based upon my mother and my childhood experiences. I know. Cliché as balls. As it turns out, I've signed myself up for a 'writers retreat' this weekend and the instructions were to bring a list of questions and projects that we're working on. I guess I'd better drudge up some bizarre shit to write about and then proceed to eat my feelings. Did I mention that I'm paying for this?

Daughter: "Mom, are you seriously writing a blog? (laughs) I love you."

Cover me, I'm going in.

Why I March

Why I March

I have had several conversations the past few days about the Women's Marches around the globe this past weekend and here in SLC on Monday afternoon. I know that I don't owe anyone an explanation but I'd like to suggest that you consider the following before judging me or anyone else who participated...


1. In my opinion, based upon what I saw with my own eyes, many of us marched for different reasons. For example, some marched in protest of our new President, Donald Trump. Some marched for women's rights. Some marched to end religious prejudice. Some marched under banners that read "Black Lives Matter". Some marched under signs of lady bits. Yeah diversity!

2. Just because 'the media' has said that the march was about protesting Donald Trump, doesn't make it true (cue the alternative facts jokes here). I want you to ask yourself something. Among three million+ marchers, do you believe that everyone marched in support of or against the exact same things? That we all share the same opinion about everything?

3. If anyone read the signs that I took to the march, they would see that I was talking about giving power back to the people and that the only way to make change is to DO something about it. In fact, the march in SLC on Monday was intentional. It was planned for the first day of the legislative session in an effort to bring awareness to our LOCAL GOVERNMENT.


4. I wasn't marching FOR abortion. In fact, I saw men and women marching with pro-life signs. I was happy to see them. I am pro-choice but not pro-abortion and I believe there is a distinction. I believe that I would not ever choose to have an abortion. I also believe that if someone chooses to have one, they have that right. I have no right to tell them they shouldn't. I also believe that Planned Parenthood and abortion are not mutually exclusive. PP does a lot of good work in addition to providing women with safe and legal abortions. Is it a perfect system? No. Are they all murderers? Of course not.

5. I wasn't marching against Donald Trump. I am a patriot and love this country. I respect the office of the President of the United States, no matter who is currently sitting there. Thanks to our founding fathers, we all have the right to agree or disagree with those in office. I liked the Obama years, you didn't. I don't like what I've seen so far with President Trump, you do. Great! I still love you.

6. I didn't have a pink hat. Not because I didn't want one but because I can only knit scarves. ;)

7. Here's what I was marching FOR. My daughter - for her rights as a woman and her rights as a member of the LGBTQ community. After a tough weekend, I wanted to show her that she has support, even here in Utah. I wanted her to see women and men of all races, religious backgrounds, etc. HAVE HER BACK.
I marched to show my children that the only way to change your situation is to get up off your butt and DO SOMETHING. Vote. March. Read. Learn. Speak up. This old world doesn't owe them a thing and many of their peers aren't getting that message.

I marched for equal pay. I marched in support of my muslim friends. I marched for marginalized groups whose struggle I have been fortunate enough not to share but for whom I wanted to show my support. Someone put it beautifully... "Just because you didn't break your leg doesn't mean that we shouldn't have hospitals for those who have."

I didn't like seeing a woman giving the finger to a Trump supporter. I didn't like seeing graphic signs with foul language on them. Not because I'm opposed to graphic images or foul language, because if you know me, you know I'm not. It was my sincere hope that we would all be peaceful, kind and respectful in order to obtain the most support possible from our legislators. All of that being said, I would never tell those women not to give the bird or use foul language. It is their right.

The most important thing I've learned these past few days is that when we talk about our fears, our concerns, our hopes and our dreams for this country, we are far closer than we are apart. I know you're all sick to death of the political commentary on FB so let's take it off FB. Let's take it to our porches and patios, sidewalks and parks, front rooms and family rooms. Then, let's ALL write our legislators and visit the capitol and force our leaders to make laws that reflect OUR values. VOTE in the elections. Participate in local politics. Speak your mind but do it with an open mind and heart. If in the end we disagree, that's okay too. We'll hug it out and get on with the business of living.