Real Women Are Alaskan!: My Monday Hero

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, June 13, 2011

My Monday Hero - Amazing Angie!

Honestly, from the first day I met her, I have held Angie in high esteem and had great admiration for her. She is not only a beautiful young mother, but she is also one of the most consistent individuals I know. And in my book, consistency is what shouts out to me as the character trait I am most likely to unequivocally trust.

I am thinking it has to be about four or so years since Angie and her husband of (then) ten years moved to Southeast Alaska from the bone-chilling, seemingly cryogenic arctic northern part of the state where 60° below zero is not uncommon, even on the warm days! Both she and her husband are school teachers by profession and they taught school to Native Alaskans for several years. In that time, I believe they somehow became part Native Alaskan themselves. . .or at the very least, they have successfully adopted many of the customs and traditions of these incredible people of the north.

And now, a couple of years later, they have the cutest precocious little tow-headed guy running around their house. . .and probably anywhere else he can get to! He is a handful; yet I see Angie ~ in her consistency and patience ~ showing forth the greatest love for her charge. She has a ready smile and radiant eyes. In fact, those eyes speak volumes. Although still a young woman (at least by my estimation), she has experienced portions and remnants and snippets of life which would seem quite foreign to most of us. And from that, Angie exhibits wisdom and a sense of life well beyond the capacity I would attribute to most human beings. She is, in a word, phenomenal.

Not only do I hold Angie in high esteem, but I have had the privilege to observe multiple interactions between her and her husband. In so doing, I see the light in his eyes when he is near her, I see the admiration he has for her when she is in the spotlight ~ such as presenting in front of a group ~ and I see the depth of devotion he has for this woman who agreed to marry him over a decade ago. To me, the opportunity to quietly listen and watch this couple has been a treat and a blessing.

Angie, you are my hero. I love you, I admire you, I commend your successes in this life and this world. You are one of those rare "unsung heroes" we hear about so often, and secretly wish we could be. Thank you for blessing my life!