Much to celebrate but …

Last Sunday was International Women’s Day.  To slightly tweak an old Virginia Slims cigarette ad, “we’ve come a long way baby” but let’s not rest on our laurels just yet.  We still have a way to go.

In many parts of the world women are still seen, and treated, as chattel.  In some parts of the world they’re considered so worthless, such a burden they’re killed as soon as they’re born.  In some parts of the world they still have to suffer through genital mutilation, to ensure they get no pleasure from sex.

In some parts of the world they’re not allowed to even look at a man, they’re forced to be covered up from head to toe with slits only for their eyes.  In some parts of the world if they dare to commit adultery and get caught they’re stoned to death.  They have

Day 169. Loved It!

Yesterday wasn’t the most productive day I’ve ever had.  By choice.  I was glued to my television.  Yes, I stayed home and watched the Inauguration.  All day.  I watched every bit of it.

When President Obama was elected to his first term, I was completely caught up in Obama fever.  I was in India when he was inaugurated.  I remember telling my travel agent I didn’t care where we were, or what she’d planned, I was going to be watching TV.  As it turned out, we were in the South, in a tiny hill station 7,500 feet above sea level.  On a tea plantation in Munnar.

It was quite a remote spot, and I was concerned there’d be no way I’d be able to watch.  Happily I was wrong.  Our resort had one television set, in a large alcove off the dining room.

And there I was, at 1:30 in the morning, with other tourists from all over the world — Germany, France,