The Strength of Women

As we have said repeatedly in Sisters by Heart, Kay and I respect the crones within us - they are the keepers of our intellect and, at our ages, have endowed us with the right to speak out.

Now that I'm approaching 80, suddenly I've discovered it's great to age! I feel a new empowerment. We have a bright purple bumper sticker on our car that says, "Outrageous Older Woman". That's what being older is all about - it's a time to be outrageous, feisty and most of all it's an entitlement to say what's on our minds.

We were born in the 1920's and along with other women our ages, have risen out of subservient positions in a patriarchal society. Women play a significant and independent role in the pesent and will continue to be defined in ways Kay and I could only imagine.

I spent 25 married years biting my tongue because I thought that was the way a wife was supposed to behave. When my second marriage ended, through the love and support of strong women I learned the importance of liking myself and making myself happy. I searched deep inside myself and made the decision to step out on the road less traveled which is where Kay and I met.

I received no ESP that my life would change forever once this woman crossed my threshold. She was to become the Gibraltar in my life, my partner and cohort in over two decades of challenges that would reverse the sand in the hour glass. Although our chronological ages would stubbornly advance, with each new adventure we shed more of the "fear of trying" until ultimately our minds and bodies fed on - and drew vigor from - our endeavors.

Aging is like driving a car: it seems you're just doing 30, then you're pushing 40 and suddenly before you can hit the brakes, you're at 60.