Missing Barbara Jordan

"I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in "We, the people."
-Barbara Jordan, Statement on the Articles of Impeachment, delivered 25 July 1974, House Judiciary Committee

So much for "strict constructionism" in constitutional interpretation.

What a patriot was Barbara Jordan! She definitely would have been the first Woman African American Supreme Court Justice had she not died of pneumonia in the 1990's. How different things would be going now. She would have been the protectress of all Americans.

How we now need our mothers and sisters and daughters in government!

For the text and mp3 audio of Jordan's speech: http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barbarajordanjudiciarystatement.htm

Knitting

Recently I have taken up knitting. I knit my thoughts and feelings stitch by stitch into the my creation on the circular needles. All of life's joy, frustration, sadness, happiness gets woven into the garment; and a little bit of dog hair, too.

I am making myself a sweater; but I paused long enough to make my daughter a pair of STITCH 'N BITCH HURRY UP SPRING ARM-WARMERS, from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation by Debbie Stoller. I have almost finished the first one.

My mother taught me to knit when I was a little bit older than a baby. Then she taught me to purl. That's all. I made squares, many many squares of knit, or knit and purl in every possible permutation. She told me it would be too hard for me to knit a sweater. Ever.

I recently visited my mother (now 83) in "the home". I told her I was knitting. I thanked her for teaching me. She told me she didn't believe me. Oh, yes, she believes I am thankful for her teaching me to knit. She doesn't believe that I am actually making a garment. *sigh* I will have to take it to her . . .

Mother was a nurse in post-WWII Germany. The country was effete, and all the wool had been gathered to clothe Hitler's army and weave for them blankets. She unraveled a Red Cross blanket and crafted an intricate ski-sweater for herself. She knit me a plethora of sweaters. The Red-Cross sweater was my favorite, and I took it to college. I loved her inventiveness and bravery whenever I wore it.

Gratitude is fulfilling.