On Womanhood

I read something today that made me smile.

"We are curvy and boundless, in body and in spirit."

I don't know if it pertains only to women, because my ADD kicked in and I quickly lost interest. But to me (and that is what is really important), it represents how I feel about the women in my life.

I shall share them with you.

Name: Anne Middaugh

Age: She'd kill me

Occupation: Clinical Psychologist/Mom

My mother is amazing. Brilliant and Beautiful. She works hard. Nothing in her life has come easy, but she embraces every challenge as a new experience to learn and grow. She is more than my mother, she is my best friend. I love her more than I can possibly explain.

She once saw Led Zeppelin twice in one week. She saw the Rolling Stones for $5. She saw David Bowie's Diamond Dogs and Ziggy Stardust tours. She climbed the roller coaster at Mission Beach, and was permanently banned from the Spaghetti Factory. She was arrested by the Secret Service for "accidentally" trespassing on Richard Nixon's lawn. She is so much cooler than I will ever be.

She birthed me without an epidural, and raised me on her own. I think she did a great job.

Name: Chloe Middaugh

Age: 17

Occupation: Student/Cousin

Chloe dances. She dances while people are watching, and she dances when there is no one around. She dances while she stands in line for a ride at Disneyland. She dances when she gets good news. She dances when she is sad. I have never, in 17 years, seen this child stand still.

Chloe is full of promise and youth. I envy the freedom she has, but I don't envy the difficult times she will face as she gets older. I can only hope she retains her exuberance.

Name: Patricia Middaugh

Age: almost 78

Occupation: Retired/Gammy

Gammy beat breast cancer. Beat it hard. Then she beat bladder cancer. Recently she beat a bum kidney. She beat alcoholism. She beat a difficult childhood, left behind in Ireland by her mentally ill mother. She beat poverty. She earned a GED. She got rid of her Irish accent, because people can be cruel. She was a Marine. A female Marine. In the 1950s. She made her marriage last, through hardships, both financial and personal. She raised two wonderful daughters. She takes care of her husband. She loves her (overfed) chihuahua. She is my Gammy. I wish I had a picture of her on my hard drive. Just combine the pictures of my Aunt and Mom.

Name: Kerry Middaugh

Age: She'd kill me too

Occupation: Phone Company/Aunt

Aunt Kerry beat alcoholism too. She has remained sober for the last 20+ years. Even as she raised a daughter as a single parent. Even as she saved her money to buy a home, then renovate it. Even as she battled a bad boyfriend. Even as she battled for a good job in a male driven field. She always has a place for you to stay, a cup of coffee for you to drink, and a great conversation for you to enjoy.

Name: Emily Mieler

Age: 26

Occupation: Receptionist/Amazing friend

Emily is funny. Really funny. Milk coming out your nose funny. She can make you laugh when everything else sucks. It is a true gift. She has been a best friend to me through incredibly painful and exuberantly joyful times. I hope have I have been half the friend to her she has been to me. She loves old people and retarded people. She claims to hate redheads. But the truth is, she has the most beautiful heart ever. And great boobs.

Name: Kristina Abril

Age: 26

Occupation: Bakery Girl/Amazing Friend

Kristina is small. Very small. But her heart is huge. Immense! She holds the love of the world in her heart. She is an amazing artist. She creates without even trying. She and I have the bestest love story in the whole wide world, and it involves Pat Benetar. She is soulful, and thoughtful, and kind. I hope and pray for her continued joy as she enters a new phase in her beautiful life.

Name: Corinne Swanson

Age: 21 (!)

Occupation: Assistant/Sister-in-Law

I've never had a sister. I couldn't ask for anyone more wonderful than Corinne. She is incredibly driven. She works so hard. She is the most selfless person I have ever met. She continually gives to those around her, sometimes even to the detriment of herself. She loves her family. She loves her friends. She loves her big black SUV. She misses Colorado, but loves home (Tucson). She loves her mommy. She loves her sister, even when it is hard. She has utmost respect for her older brothers. She helps her father, even when he is being a pain in the ass. She is giving, and kind, and supremely special. I am lucky to know her.