How does that tiny bird stay balanced on the twig so high up in the tree? From my chair, I cannot see what type of bird it is, but I’ve seen others hang on like broncobusters on top of sprouting grasses by the side of the road or in swamps by lakes while winds throw them right and left.
Balance. It is what I need and little of what I have. I think I inherited my lack of equilibrium. I’ve been known to walk into walls, but I know my dad did too, and I saw his sister who wasn’t raised with him do it too. (They were orphans and raised in different homes.) I have hearing issues, totally deaf in one ear and a nasty astigmatism, neither help this old brain keep the rest of the body walking, much less standing straight. My neck and my back have caused me painful issues for a long time. In the last few years, I’ve developed some problems that will never go away. My physical therapist has instructed me it is time to use my cane.
Oh, vanity of all vanities, I don’t want to. I do use “Rudi,” my walking stick though, especially if I know I am about to climb a hill or walk a thorny path. I also use a shopping cart to hold on while I am out and about at the market, of course, that leads me to spending money, which leads to another problem—buying what two of us don’t need or use.
On the other hand, a balance of power gets our country nowhere as our leaders hot air blows us like the bird on the twig swaying back and forth. Yet a great shift like an earthquake of power can encourage even that little winged creature to fly off and fly high above to avoid a serious calamity. We cannot. We could flee to a different country, but I doubt many of us will because deep down we know we live in the best country in the world.And for us women and those who care for what we have fought for, lost and won, we need to remember we are mighty in number and in strength. We can’t forget that. We are like the bird gripping with its tiny feet to stay on the limb’s smallest shoots. Think of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, and across the big pool, Emmeline Parkhurt and all of her crew; yes, those “radicals” created freedoms for the rest of us women a long time ago. My mother, aunts, and grandmothers knew and appreciated those freedoms, and I assume yours did too.
Each generation since has had to keep pushing on and over to grab hold of a little bit more: from first the vote, to equal rights in the workplace, educational right, legal rights in our businesses, to our health rights, and so much more is at stake. My hope is we don’t have to take up pickets and start marching, smash windows, or starve ourselves again like those early soldiers of our cause.
Now is the time to remind our younger generations of what has been done for us already and to hold on tight like the bird out on the high branch of the tree as the winds of change try to blow us about.
A wonderful song, showing the attitude of the “women’s lib era” is “I AM WOMAN,” sung and partially written by Helen Reddy. Some of the lyrics remind and forewarn us:
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much
To go back an’ pretend
‘Cause I’ve heard it all before
And I’ve been down there on the floor
No one’s ever gonna
Keep me down again
Oh yes I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman
You can bend but never break me
‘Cause it only serves to make me
More determined
To achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
‘Cause you’ve deepened
The conviction in my soul
Oh yes I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin’ arms
Across the land
But I’m still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my
Brother understand
Oh yes I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
P.S. My schedule has been very busy with health-related issues since I last posted. I was checked into the surgical center 3X. Colonoscopy, right cervical and left cervical ablations on my upper neck, and physical therapy for the past few months for my lower area–to gain strength and to gain some balance, which I lost after my last fall when I fractured ribs.
Now I am getting ready for my last three events of the year:
I’ll be bringing my best prices for my books–Minnesota Main Street Women’s series, including my latest “Where Two Rivers Meet,” and “Around Clearwater.” I will also be giving away a handmade bookmark to anyone buying a book. They are $2-3 a piece otherwise.
Saturday, November 23, St. Joseph, MN
Resurrection Lutheran Church Craft Fair
https://www.facebook.com/events/937221781551371/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22external_search_engine%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your_upcoming_events_unit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D
Saturday, December 7th, Becker, MN
Pebble Creek Christmas Market
https://www.facebook.com/events/937221781551371/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22external_search_engine%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your_upcoming_events_unit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D
Todd Stupnik,
my son and fellow artist, will be joining me with all his wonderful art. This will be quite a showing:
https://www.facebook.com/todd.stupnik
Saturday, December 14th, St Cloud, MN
Makers Market
https://www.facebook.com/events/937221781551371/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22external_search_engine%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your_upcoming_events_unit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D
In addition, just a reminder that I am open for speaking events, round tables, book club chats in 2025. I’ve a few engagements already scheduled so hope to hear very soon if you have an idea of what you’d like me to do. Send me an email cstupnik@outlook.com or chat with me on Facebook/Messenger.