Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day. It is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some countries like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD is a national holiday (first started in 1911). I do find it interesting how it’s NOT a holiday in the United States.

In honor of this day, I want to celebrate the many women in my life, letting them know how they affect me and celebrateing them for their diversity of strength and character.

Those who influence

My Mom
While we may agree to disagree on so many things I can honestly say that my mom can be amazing. I owe my love of music (and my love of the diversity of music to her. She is charismatic, sarcastic, smart, and snarky, all at the same time.

She managed to raise two kids, on her own. ((NO child support, NO man, NO health insurance.))  I don’t care what day and age you’ve lived in–raising two kids single-handedly is probably the hardest task anyone could ask. Many people try and fail. My mom, she did a pretty good job. ((My brother and me aren’t in jail, are we? πŸ˜‰ ))

Mary
Mary is my mother-in-law. She is one of the most formidable (in a good way) women I’ve ever met. She is strong, smart, and no-nonsense. She raised three pretty remarkable sons under some pretty tough circumstances. She has also overcome many of her own demons to be a successful business owner and a remarkable woman.

Michelle
Another remarkable woman. Michelle is currently raising two toddlers by herself. (At least me and my brother were 10 years apart!). A person with little self-esteem due to things I won’t mention here, she has overcome and has become an amazing mother.

Oh, and she managed to get herself through school, while working full-time and having two small boys. That’s pretty amazing.

KrUsher
Kristen is everything I am not. Easy-going, mellow, and not very materialistic ((I’m really trying to work on my materialism!)).  It is true that opposites attract! I consider her one of my dearest friends, even if I moved 1500 miles away and am lucky to talk to her once a week.

Currently, KrUsher is going through a tough time. She’s having to deal with the reality that our parent’s don’t live forever. I think of her everyday and can’t wait until I hear the news that there will be a mini-KrUsher coming. πŸ˜‰

Lisa
Another ΓΌber-amazing woman, Lisa has also faced some tough challenges and has come out ahead. She’s the mother of three beautiful kids and I can only hope my boys turn out as fabulous as hers appear to be.

Lisa is one of those rare women who accepts her faith and like God, understands that people are fallible. She also knows that her tattoos, her love of a good tequila, and her one indiscretion during her life will not overshadow the fact that she is a beautiful, amazing, compassionate and devout chick!

Besides, all she needs to do is show St. Peter the F’ing amazing tattoo of Our Lady of Guadalupe that covers her entire back to get admittance through the pearly gates. πŸ˜›

Nicole
Nicole was my first Florida friend. What’s really ironic about that is she moved here from Denver about 6 months after I did! How’s that for a small world?

Her and her husband are raising three beautiful girls with lots of patience ((Okay, some patience and a lot of threatening.))  and even more love. I’m glad I found her here, and not in Denver.

Ivonne
Ivonne is either driven, or nuts. πŸ˜› How else would you explain a woman who works full-time as nurse practitioner, has two girls in elementary school, and is going to school to earn her doctorate’s degree? Sure, her husband is a big help, but come on. That’s a lot going on! She is beautiful, smart, driven, and generous, and I’m honored to have her has a sister-in-law.

Those who get me through the day

Working online, from home, can be a lonely endeavor. Thanks goodness I have a great network of eFriends to keep me company!

Miss Caught Up
Her and I became friends after I started following her blog. We started chatting through Blog Catalog, but that is annoying. I invited her to Plurk, and the rest is history.

I hate that she lives SO far away, meaning the odds of us ever meeting in person are pretty slim. What’s ironic is that if a day goes by where I haven’t talked to her, my day doesn’t seem complete. We exchanged Christmas cards, I know her real name and her boyfriend, and I truly consider her a friend.

Miss Caught Up is funny, smart, crazy, and addicted to all things internet-chick-gamey ((Like YoVille on FB, or Season One, or Plurk!))  Which is probably why we get along so well!

Fragile Heart
While I don’t talk to Reggy every day I try to talk to her as much as possible. She’s sensitive, humorous, and like the rest of us, is trying to figure shit out. Reggy, however, is airing it all online. πŸ™‚ Which also makes her brave!

Lyndi
Not only is Lyndi the WordPress guru she is probably the nicest person, online or offline, that I’ve ever met. Her blog, Nice 2 All, means just that.

CarolineFB
I’m not sure how to describe Caroline. Snarky, sensitive, bitchy, sweet, belligerent ((She’ll understand the reference πŸ˜‰ ))   and funny. I enjoy every one of our conversations. She’s a bit of a mystery still–I haven’t figured out if that is really not her in her blog profile. But every day I love chatting with her and learning more.

There are more–too many to name them here. Great women like Niamh, Sonya, Deana, Jackie, Amber, Trisha, and so on.

Thank you all, for being women. For being wonderful, amazing, great women. πŸ™‚

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11 Comments on “International Women’s Day 2009”

  1. I love the graphic, we can do it, that is for sure.

    Thanks for the kind words (blush blush). Here in South Africa we do not have a holiday to celebrate International Women’s Day. We do however have a Women’s Day sometime in August, this one is a public holiday. Typical South Africa, we are always different. Locally, we women, do not have too much to celebrate. Abuse against women and children is still very much a big problem. The government keeps making promises but nothing really changes. The country as a whole has already conquered so many major problems, yet they fail to get rid of the unnecessary violence against the women. Who knows, maybe one day.

    • I honestly did not know that abuse against women is such a problem in your country. I am, unfortunately, the typical American in that I don’t know much about other countries–good or bad. I hope that unnecessary violence does not touch you, or your new little bundle.

      There are so many ways I could have chosen to honor this day. I decided to keep it close to home this year. I’m lucky to have so many amazing women in my life, both near and far. I wanted to reach out and let them know. πŸ™‚

  2. Can’t WAIT to hear comments on the woman who has said so many wonderful things about so many people. But enough about us…what about YOU?

    I want to hear what people say because I will, as usual, usurp some of the praise, because whether in spite of me, or because of me, I take credit, in part for the truly incredible woman my daughter has become.

    She is every bit the things she says I am, but did I mention beautiful? Always has been, always will be. And I’m talking the DROP-DEAD, turn and stare when she goes by variety! I never was. I used to wonder who this child was, and how I ended up with such a beautiful human. Then, I look at a picture of her next to my Mother’s, and I know.

    My daughter is commpasionate to a fault, not only with her family and friends, but toward the entire WORLD! Every issue from starving children, to cloth grocery bags. (Did I forget to mention the Polar bears!?) I was always “issue conscience. I’m an old hippie, and we DID love our causes! It was easy to sit and argue againt war, or famine, or injustice from the saftey of our barstools! My daughter, on the other hand, sends ideas and thoughts and solutions out into the world via the net. Now granted, we didn’t HAVE computers in the 70s, or even the 80’s…too hard to plug them into the rock walls of the cave! She has a huge arena of knowledge to use and to share. But she DOES it!

    My daughter is a mother now. And she, as a mother has the wonderful opportunity of working from home. This allows her more time, more interaction with my grandsons. That aside, just BEING there doesn’t make you a good mother. My daughter isn’t. She’s a WONDERFUL mother. She is the mother that looking back now I wish to God I had been. It is a true testiment to my daughter’s will, and stubborness, and downright determination that she became the incredible, talented, caring woman she is.

    I know, and have known in my life, many wonderful woman. But of all the woman I know, my daughter is the one I am most proud of, most impressed with, and am truly blessed with the opportunity to be a part of her life.

    The highest compliment I can give my daughter is to say that if she weren’t my daughter, she is a woman I would want as a friend.

    Mom

  3. Awh Melissa! You’re just the sweetest ever. I’m glad people don’t hate me for being my neurotic, insecure self online for all the world to see! LOL It’s such a pleasure sharing the internet (and the world) with such talented, inspiring and supportive women like you!

    Belated Happy International Women’s day!

    • I think you rock Reggy! I don’t find you neurotic nor insecure. Just another amazing woman looking to find her way in the world. πŸ™‚

  4. You are so thoughtful! I appreciate the mention very much. I too think it’s odd that we don’t celebrate or even mention the day in the US. Probably because women have too many holidays already – one in May and all the others?

    Thank you for being such a dear friend to me. The past few weeks have been difficult and I love that I could count on your kind words to pick up my spirits and put me in a much better place emotionally. I know that if we were closer (distance-wise) that you’d be someone I could count on.

    I hope I don’t ever have to, but know you can count on me if you need a friend.

    And in all honesty, the picture isn’t me. But she is lovely. xoxo

    • Melissa,

      I am soooo touched, humbled, and honored that you have mentioned me in your tribute to International Woman’s Day. To be mentioned by someone who I think is truly amazing is mind boggling. I think you give me too much credit but I’ll take it! πŸ™‚ As my mom points out to me on days I feel low, there are way more women out there that have it worse than I do. I am not beaten, starving, or fearing for the safety and well being of my beautiful boys.

      You have been and will continue to be my inspiration. You are a wonderful mother, friend, and wife. You have strong opinions and values that you express not only to me but to the world. I love that about you even when I am on the wrong end of those opinions! You don’t accept failure and turn unpleasant situations into positives. I have realized recently that I will never be a shiny, happy person but I try to look at the spin you put on things and look at things through sunglasses, i.e. I won’t be shiny but will be in the sun!

      You have been my friend through everything even when I didn’t deserve it.

      God bless you and your family, Melissa because YOU are truly amazing. I am truly blessed to have you in my life!

      • I don’t think I could ever do what you do, raising two precocious boys on my own. I’m fortunate to have a lot of help.

        You are also more poetic than you know. I love your line “I won’t be shiny but will be in the sun!” That’s perfect!

        My mom would definitely agree that I have strong opinions…I tend to be “strongest” on those I love the most.

        You hang in there. You are an amazing mom and you have two fabulous boys! And I love you!

    • It would be cool to live much closer, but if I ever get to Pittsburgh or the UK, I will definitely count on you to show me around. πŸ™‚

      Who knows, maybe you’ll get to central FL. We have a lot of theme parks!

  5. Pingback: A Tribute to Women Everywhere « Ich Bin Ein Krapfen

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