Wednesday-Saturday, March 10-13, 2021

Dear Marion,

   In the Northeast, we have been experiencing weather that has lived up to the characteristics of the month of March- Spring one day, Winter the next, etc. Every time I lift up my head I hear a mention of Women’s History month and by the way Monday was International Women’s Day. It has been fascinating to hear the stories and statements of those that have taken steps forward to help change the world to be a better place. I think it’s interesting that women have often been declared to be fickle or emotional and here we are given the month of March to be honored in history- coincidence? This month also marks the 10 year anniversary of the Tsunami that devastated Japan. Globally this has been an unusual and crushing year due to the pandemic and we can now acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the initial lockdown. Fortunately, the much-anticipated vaccine is moving through communities, bringing with it some newfound hope and relief. Another upbeat happening in the next week is that of St Patrick’s Day which will not be celebrated as in the past but certainly more hopeful than last year at the beginning of the COVID lockdown. 

  If I were to declare a color to represent March, I would choose green. To be fair, I enjoy all colors depending on how and when they are presented but growing up, green inched ahead as my favorite. Green conjures up different meanings or thoughts for each individual. I said to your granddaughter the other day, the color green can refer to the environment(go green), currency(U.S. paper dollars), or GO(at a traffic light). She responded yes but if you look to green in history or religion it can mean envy or jealousy.

  Shades of green. Hmmm. Where have I heard that before? From you of course where and when exactly I cannot be sure. What I do remember is sitting in the back seat of the Newport Chrysler, sometime in the 1970s, daydreaming out the window as was my favorite activity. “Look at all the beautiful shades of green,” you declared as you pointed in the direction of a tree-lined field. Our response was, “what?!,”. Well, a few years ago I caught myself saying the same thing to the backseat of my car and they responded pretty much the same way. I get it now, one day they will too. Thank you. 

   Sometime after we started growing our family and post 9/11, we moved to a new apartment with an interesting women’s boutique housed below right on the corner of 81st Street and Madison Avenue. I loved looking in the windows and whenever a sale was posted, I made it my business to check out my favorite items. I probably spoke to you about the green slightly distressed leather jacket that I coveted throughout the season before it went on sale. As you know, the women who worked in that store were so friendly and helpful which was not always the case in that neighborhood at that time. Did I mention it was in my size? It was a sign, at least that is what I told myself, the green jacket was on sale and how could I possibly think of walking away without that jacket wrapped beautifully in their garment bag and over my shoulder?! Well, it was a wise purchase and it remains one of my favorite clothing items to this day. It is a bright green with an even brighter shade of green liner but it remains relevant because it is a classic style. The attention to detail including the slight hint of distress around the seams keeps it from appearing too serious or tailored. Well, that and the bright shade of green. Over the years, my weight has fluctuated meaning at my lower size I can wear a shirt and sweater underneath and in the upper size sans sweater. My favorite detail is the printed multi-colored butterfly applied to the liner inside the back of the jacket. No surprise to you, I am sure, that I adore details where you wouldn’t expect to see one.

   In the last week, I caught a profile regarding a farm in Jackson hole, Wyoming. This farm had taken over a space that had previously been empty, but more surprising was the actual location. This abandoned building had been refitted to install a vertical farm growing green vegetables using a hydroponic format. Two creative women(one is an architect) had planned and executed this successful farm through trial and error. With their ultimate success, there are plans for future locations. Inspired by one of the partners’ mentally challenged family members, they succeeded in their mission to hire many mentally and physically challenged adults to complete their team. The success came not only in the form of lovely green vegetables, but also in the joyful work environment, and the benefits to this local community.

  I have been reading “Unfinished,” by Priyanka Chopra Jonas. It is a beautifully narrated journey thus far filled with gratitude and love for her family and the sacrifices they all made for her and one another. Priyanka Chopra Jonas shares stories that clearly illustrate how her dad taught her to take difficult experiences and shift them into learning experiences redirecting her on another path. Often the gifts received were hard work mixed with an open mind and a simple desire to succeed.

  Your granddaughter and I have been discussing the difficult work and chances women have taken and endured to open the doors to equality for all people. We all have something valuable to share and it is so important to encourage our young girls to do the work, find their passion, and know that they are needed. We often enjoy cooking or baking just like you and me. This week we made mouth-watering Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes and Irish Soda Bread. The former was scrumptious and the latter, well let’s just say we’re working on it.

Talk soon,

Forever Yours

Quote:

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning.”

Gloria Steinem

American feminist writer, journalist, and social-political activist 

born 1934