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Aimee, Family, Gargie, Hidden Figures, Inspiration, Inspiring women, International Women's Day, Life, Love, Mum, Space Program
I looked adversity straight in the eye, squared my shoulders and winked…..Livonne
Today is International Women’s Day.. The day is to celebrate the struggle for women’s rights. While we’ve come a long way, we still have quite a journey ahead of us. I went to see the movie Hidden Figures yesterday. I was stunned by it. Not just that it was such a fantastic movie, but that I grew up in the era of space travel. I sat in school watching man walk on the moon. The space program was such a huge part of the lives of those of us growing up in the 60’s.
But we knew for sure that it was a man’s job. The closest any woman could get to being part of the space program was if you were a secretary or Barbara Eden. It was too big and confusing for a little lady, wasn’t it? Well as it turns out.. the answer to that is a big fat no! It seems women played a huge part in the space program. And, shock horror, “coloured” women.
It’s more than 50 years since I first heard of the space program and I’m only hearing now that women played a massive role in the mission. Why? I honestly don’t know. I will be honest, as I’ve gotten older, the excitement of mankind in space hasn’t greatly inspired me so I’ve not paid a huge amount of attention but even so, this should have been spread everywhere.
These women were pioneers. They broke down so many barriers. They were not only women in a man’s world but also negro women in a white man’s world. They had to jump through hoops to gain the chance to change the shape of the world and then to be ignored for it. If you get a chance to see this movie, do it. It’s extremely powerful and empowering.
We live in a world today where so many women don’t understand the sacrifices made by our foremothers to allow us the freedoms that we know today. We still have a long way to go but the pioneer women that have walked this earth before us have given us a much easier life than they lived.
Even those who didn’t make history for changing the world still made life easier for us. They worked harder than we could possibly imagine to make life easier for the next generation. Between them, my beloved mother and grandmother raised 21 children on a shoestring. They fed, clothed and most of all loved us all with little or no money. How they both did it is beyond my comprehension.
Today on International Women’s Day, I celebrate the three women who mean the most to me. My grandmother, Gargie who allowed me to dream and dream big. She told me I was more beautiful than all the colours of the rainbow. My mother, Mary, who taught me how to be a mother. She taught me to love and to be loved. I could never hope to be the beautiful sweet soul that she was but will be forever grateful to have been her daughter. And last but certainly not least, my beautiful angel daughter Aimee who taught me what it was to love unconditionally. While she didn’t get the chance to grow to be a woman, she was the reason I did. Until I held her in my arms, I didn’t know what love truly was.
Happy International Women’s Day…..Livvy xxxx
Four generations of strong and beautiful women! I agree with you about the Nasa women, and I saw the movie Hidden Figures and marvelled at their achievement and also at the way it was hidden. I remember seeing that space centre control room on TV and ne’er a woman in it. And they called them ‘computers’…. it sounded funny to hear people called that. But what they did was better than any computer in the modern sense!
Yes, I have to say I was pretty shocked to hear them referred to as computers.. but what amazing women they were.. 🙂
Gorgeous photo Livonne and you are all sooo alike ! x
Thanks Annie.. yes, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, looks wise.. though my mother was the world’s most patient & sweet person… Patience isn’t a virtue the rest of us shared lol
Alot of strong women in my ‘house’ too though I’m probably the quietest of the lot…your love for the three of them shines from your words (patient or not ha ha).
definitely.. they were amazing 🙂
Agreed a wonderful, inspiring movie! and your post was equally deserving 😉
Thanks Chez 🙂
What a delightful family of strong women, almost opposite to mine …
Sorry you lost your daughter but how wonderful to have memories of her!
Thanks Ginger.. I feel very blessed to have been from such a wonderful line of women.. I’m sorry that wasn’t your experience.. xx
It only made me stronger and more determined to be very different to them.
another amazing strong woman 🙂
A beautiful post; and a lovely tribute to the most important women in your life.
Thanks Su and happy International Women’s Day 🙂
🙂 thanks