Funny how the world sees "real women. . ."

Evidenced by all the Real Housewives of. . . shows which seem to be overtaking our televisions, it appears that the world believes we should all be wealthy, pampered, enviable, catty, curvaceous, gorgeous, and more. While we may be gorgeous, most of us are not rich or spoiled or even catty. We are ~ simply put ~ real.

The idea for this blog came after watching a few of those real housewives shows and realizing just how skewed the views of everyday life can be through the eyes of these women. Particularly to those of us in the trenches, working day-in-day-out to take care of ourselves, our children, our parents, our spouses/partners. Those of us who are out there earning a living, who may be dealing with catastrophic events or troubled children or medical issues or partner concerns.

This is a call to all women everywhere who live everyday lives and who want to simply do their best as they love all, laugh often, and live fully. Let us unite with our whole heart and soul, with humanity and grace, with vigor and hope. We are women and we are thankful to be so!



Monday, March 7, 2011

My Monday Hero: LIDA PERRY CALL

My other awesome grandmother is Lida Perry Call, my father's mother. She was conveniently born in 1900, making it quite simple to remember her age each year! She lived a long and oh-so-fulfilling life. And she was very blessed ~ in her words when she was about 93 years young: "I have always had such good friends, my entire life. Even now, they are always kind. They take me places, they help me however they can. I have been so blessed." I remember spending many hours in conversation with Granny. She once told me, "You are the only grandchild who calls me Granny and I really like it!" So Granny it was, forever-after.


I recall listening as Granny told me about living in Logan, Utah as a single young woman of 26 wondering if she would ever be married and have children. I asked if she could have even conceived of the great number of posterity who call her Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother. In 1926, no, she could not. And in 1994, so many of us came together at a reunion, and ~ as life would have it ~ to spend a few days, within the last few years of her life, as an entire family. Granny had five children, who each had multiple children (six in my family alone!), and from there, her great- and great-great-grandchildren began to arrive.


This woman is totally and completely my hero. She lived a long twenty years after Grandpa Call passed, and yet she stayed so strong ~ physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. She was blessed with a healthy mind throughout her nearly 97 years. Her wit remained intact, her wise-cracking one-liners keeping us constantly entertained. She was able to at once be the funniest woman around, and still demand respect simply by her presence. She was beautiful throughout her life with a perfectly innate beauty unmatched by the most glamorous of any modern-day model. She brought out the very best in everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. 


Granny, you are my hero, my ideal, a paragon of excellence toward which I strive to become. I love you with all my heart, and miss you with that same heart. And to you, as with Grandma Wheeler, I hope to report about what I have done with your name and your legacy. I intend to become the woman you always saw in me, and to present myself to you and Grandpa and all of my ancestors when I see you again. 



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