WOman Kind

Went to bed crying for my wife and daughter's last night. The three are awesome Women and I am so Blessed and pleased The Great Mystery has provided me the continued teachings of the WOman Kind.

I am able to see and read the painfully obvious differences in my family's WOmen Folk. Generation by generation, I have seen the up's and down's of what our WOmen have had to endure, the lives lived, the motivations and inspirations of some, while other's took or have taken life as a spectator rather than a participant.

Thinking I will begin with my Great Grandmother Mimi. She was born in 1900 and lived into her seventy's. Abuela (grandmother in Spanish) Mimi, never uttered a profane word in my company and I do not recollect Mimi ever complaining about anything. She was and is the best cook in the world. Abuela was born in Key West, thus beginning the Americanization of our family tree on the Hispanic side of the Family Tree. My memories of my Great Grandmother also include her forever and ever working. Cooking, washing clothes by hand, her beautiful roses and her beautiful smile and smell. Mimi always wore an apron, loved her family, John F. Kennedy and Jesus Christ.

my Dearest Abuela Mary, Mimi's daughter was born in 1919. My Sweet Grandmother did not utter profanity in English (smile) ever in my company. Abuela Mary, worked as a Nurse for what I seem to remember as being forever. She was the mid-wife at my birth in 1959 and she worked in the Nursing Profession with pride for decades. Her white uniform was always bright white and starched ironed and she wore her Nursing cap just a tiny bit to one side. Her white shoes were shined daily as I do not remember ever seeing a one scuff mark on her hard working shoes. Abuela Mary, worked hard and was a single parent to my father and two brilliant Aunts. My Abuela enjoyed dancing and getting all dressed up so beautifully, I thought she looked just like a movie star. She has always been a bright star in my eye's. Her devotion to God and family was something I'll never ever forget. Abuela suffered and survived much spousal abuses from more than one husband, yet this was something I did not learn until adulthood. She kept all of that locked up and sheltered us from this bitter piece of family history. Abuela Mary is 92 now, and I'll be seeing her in just about an hour or two. My sister Face is off today, so she'll take me to see Abuela's and off to see a dear friend who just recently lost here Mom.

My two Aunts, also known as my Tia's, were influences in my life as they were WOmen teachers from up close and from a distance. Both of my dear Tia's worked damned hard for themselves and family. Working hard as employee's of the company's they worked for, for their husbands and my cousins. Even though sisters, each had such different personalities that I was able to learn differing approaches to the challenges life presents to our WOmen. My Aunt's have always been dear to me and I witnessed abuses that both had to endure and survive. I believe in my Inner Core that I knew but a bit of what it was these two WOmen had to live through. It still hurts my heart knowing that surving abuse is something we have in common besides our Blood. I respect and love them both very much.

I will not be speaking about my Mother as she brings in a Family Tree that was born and bred here in the South and that's a whole different set of WOmen Folk. And my Mommy Dearest, is a life lesson that I still am working on, even years after her Crossing. Enough.

My parents had seven children, I being the eldest, then soon followed by three of my four sisters. I have often half-assed joked about being the oldest girl in our family because it seems as if there is more of a WOman inside me than one or two of them. I won't mention names because it's not a matter of saying names. It's just that I look at my four sisters and see four very different WOmen. I love them all and have learned lessons about being a WOman through their experiances as hard working WOmen. Some more than others, but who am I to say?

I tell you what...

...this brings me to my dearest wife and daughters. My bride and I have been married soon to be 32 years and something I am aware of is she is probably one of the strongest WOman I've ever met. She has always worked so very hard at whatever or which ever job she may have had. She has always worked hard as a Mother and especially as my wife. These days she is the only one working and I feel as if this is so much of a burden on her. My strong yet gentel wife has taught me volumes and honestly I reckon God, has Blessed me with an Angel here on Earth Mother. She too has suffered abuse. From me. Not in a violent form but in a betrayal form, which can be just as hurtful and abusive as violence. My heart still carries the toxic shame, knowing I had hurt her the way I did. Yet, here we are, soon to be 32 years married and 37 years as a couple. That's a chunk of time right there and I say I love her more today than ever in all my life. My God, what a WOman! What a teacher of WOmanhood!

I conclude this communiqe with my two beautiful and brilliant daughter's who are both grown ass WOmen. My daughters are fifth generation Floridians. Which all began way back with Abuela Mimi in 1900. My eldest is currently living in a land far, far and away. She teaches women to speak English in a land where being an American can sometimes bring pecular situations. She is one of the bravest WOmen I have ever met. She is a graduate of a fine university and is an incredibly independent and strong WOman. My tiny little baby girl is thirty years of age and has been teaching me to be a Dad and teaching respect for WOmen since her birth. My youngest one has been teaching her Dad to be a Dad since her birth as well. As close as my two may be, I see two very different personalilties. And yet, they are two peas in a pod, they are so close. My youngest graduated from a world respected Culinary Institute in Orlando. She is presently working two jobs and reminds me of myself when I was her age. Work-work-work. She works so hard for her money, I cry from lack of being able to do something for her. My wee little baby girl is twenty-seven. I cry too for my eldest whom I've been unable to hug since August of last year.

Yes, I cry for my daughter's and my wife. I cry for my Abuela Mary, my dearest Mom, my dear Aunts, and my sisters. I shed tears as I tip-tap these words.

I have learned life lessons from these WOmen I have spoken of this morning. Lessons that I will carry within my Spirit's for the remainder of my life. It is the WOmen Kinfolk who tell the stories of them who came before us.

MY dearest WOmen Folk! I thank you, I love you all and I pray for you all daily! I am proud we are Kinfolk. Yes, true, and I love that we are Kinfolk. It's in the blood.

I am not worthy.