Halloween is my favourite time of year for so many reasons. A big one for me is that it is a celebration of women. I am sure many of you are thinking oh the Suzie, she really is insane! But how often do we get to see elder women portrayed anywhere?
Recently I had a discussion with my mom about being a female senior citizen. She said that they are completely invisible in our society. Nobody pays any attention to them at all and wow, did that ever make me sad. The only time we see them illustrated anywhere they are usually evil bitter witches. Every now and then you see one like I did at the scarecrow festival. How I love this witch! Her character, her openness, her other-worldly ways.
So during this season of the witch, I ask you to wake up to your female elders. Pay more attention. I am terrible at doing that (I tend not to pay attention to the human race at all) but this weekend at the grocery store I saw an older woman talking to this little boy. He was captivated by her. She told him all these stories including one about Darth Vader who the boy did not know yet, he was that young. Oh how she loved to tell him stories and he stood there, eyes huge and mouth wide open.
Whether we are really witches or not, older women have so much to offer. All women should be valued, represented and listened to. I have struggled with feeling invisible my entire life. The idea that I will fade away even more as I age brings me to tears. To know there is a sea of women who feel lost and unseen makes me weep.
Well I see you. I care about you. I honour you. You are not invisible to me and I will try and listen more to the stories you have to share. For they, like you, are so very important.
2 comments:
Lovely post! It's true, your hair goes grey and it is as if you have suddenly donned an invisibility cloak. We have to change our culture of youth into one that embraces wisdom and knowledge.
I loved this post and you are very right. My Grandmother is now 84 and very sick. She lives in AZ when I have always been used to her living within walking distance. When I was out there this year (2x, and once to care for her) I sat with her every night to watch her favorite shows with her and we would talk. She has cared for me my whole life and I lived with my grandparents back when I was 17. If it wasn't for my Grandmother, I wouldn't know what love and affection would be, since she bestowed it upon me all the time.
I am surely going to miss her when her time comes (makes teary when I think of it) so I take every moment to ask how she's doing, and I loved taking care of her this past Summer. I heard so many stories about her that I never even knew.
I honor the elderly for they are the ones who have stories to tell, wisdom to share and love to give!!
Post a Comment