FASHIONABLE

AND YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE you could do it. Trusting others more than those coming up under your rule and the rule established before you, the grandparents of all American church guidance. Yet, there you sit wrapped in awe and summation of the total reunion attendees' disbelief.

Dressing past the house dress mentality presented us all in your youth gave them something to aspire toward. Designers need only a small amount of motivation to believe in themselves SO THAT WE CAN BELIEVE IN OURSELVES. Show them a body wrapped in everyday snap-up faded cotton primary color plaid and that will be what they see before them. That is what they aim to satisfy. They pull together bloomers and girl boxers of stretch jerseys or polyester... or weak cotton fibers meant to fade noticeably with time so that they can again, provide that same (in a different color) to the same audience... dead of desire. No longer in the "tankini" of the 1930s, you went bravely into your pool holiday styled in the animal print... snakeskin high hip double spaghetti strap Bali Suit; left the beach cover on the side. Brevity improved and fashion's statement that "YOU CAN" and "YOU COULD" do better if they tried. It was "the changing of the guard" of fashion that took brave women to experiment with putting on the ritz!

I was proud of the day you did! Like the day your mom...who could not drive for years of my early youth into my past high school days of existing... when I offered to teach her and she took the wheel and learned the basics in a Chicago park where we exited the lot (to her horror) ...causing her to give up the start on a new life. That start got her out of an accident scene where grandpa's heart attack would have left the two of them stranded on DanRyan near "who knows which" exit. It took brevity at making a change. A change to routine is what changes history. I was proud of her interest in taking that start after decades of being driven, at the whim of family members, and patience prone to wearing thin.

The brevity of raising five children alone... past a marital break. Brevity in tipping into factory work when training meant watching the walk-thru of the hiring agent demonstrating "what you will and would need to do" on this job; and agreeing "sure... I can do that!" Brazing, micrometer measuring, and mold making for your nation's most important industries... agriculture and military. Some never left the kitchen where they remained held barefoot and pregnant... under fist and chain. Proud of that!

I could tell you more, that I never did remark upon. Past the whoopings (for what) at home among siblings and cousin/friends, and in classrooms of would-be friends; EXCEPT THAT THE WHOOPINGS IN CLASS MADE ME "the weird girl at school"... in elementary and high school. It caved potential for being what school was made to make. I rationalized beyond the church pastor's reasoning that "...God was going to punish you for that." I wasn't the one doing the misdeeds. It was my siblings... that I was supposed to be responsible for by reason that I should watch them... for you. I forgave you for it all and summarized it as resolve from abusive husbands. Women stress under pressure... that stress came at me. Over time I bore the stress load under pressure from my own abusive men. I did not take it out on my son or daughter. It was a lesson observed and learned early in life.

And look at you now! Completing a bucket list as suggested for all by Morgan Freeman! Competing among the FANCY DRESSED OLDER WOMEN ...bravely

In a flank of women marching through ages 70 and forward, the postings in PINTEREST as portrayed of moms and grandmoms by sons and daughters... rarely by themselves, say they are AMONG THE WORLD as women... yet alive. Do it before you can not! And be proud enough to have the brevity to do it. Love you mom... (died April 2022 before mother's day)