Phew. Now that Hysteria is over, I FINALLY have time to get back to the things I truly love:
a) Responding to New York Ex’s tag (the topic: 5 Women Who Have Inspired Me the Most); and
b) Bitching about local merchants.
Cleary, more than five women have inspired me in my life. I was thinking about how they should be divided into categories: women I actually know, women authors, public figures, fictional characters, religious leaders, Oprah, etc. But I don’t really have that much time on my hands these days - after the lead-up to Hysteria, I’ve got a stack of Starting Over on the PVR and as a certain monkey once told me, that shit’s not going to watch itself.
And so, in no particular order:
1. My Mom
Obviously, your mom teaches you lots of things growing up, some directly and some by example. I think that the coolest thing my mom taught me by example is the following: 1. You CAN figure your shit out 2. It’s TOTALLY worth it 3. Staying in a soul-sucking job is NOT worth it, so even if it means sacrifice and hard work, get the hell out and do what you love. I look at my mom now, with her thriving practice and enjoyment of life and I am very proud of my mom.
She also told me to never EVER use douche. I believe her exact words were “Sounds like it’s time for Massengill - to FUCK RIGHT OFF.” Good tip, Mom.
2. Fat activist Marilyn Wann, author of Fat!So?
You know, I was already on the road to feeling good about being a creampuff when my good friend Deye lent me this book. But Marilyn - she took me the rest of the way. It’s one thing to not apologize for your size - it’s quite another to have a vocabulary around that. Also, I have to say, the Venus of Willendorf paper doll and outfits - AWESOME.
3. Lucy Maud Montgomery.
She and her “bosom friend” characters, with their corsets and their passionate avowals of love and their constant use of the word “pussy” turned me gay. I find it both sad and very interesting that a woman who felt she had so few choices in life and who proceeded to MAKE choices that left her feeling trapped and stifled, wrote such funny, wise, occasionally sentimental, but occasionally inspiring books about women who broke with convention and lived their lives to the full. Maybe if she’d been living the kind of lives she wrote for her characters, she wouldn’t have written the books. And then I’d be a heterosexual.
Ha ha! Just kidding. If Anne of Green Gables didn’t turn me gay, Molly/Sally from the Neuromancer trilogy would have. Mmm-HMMM.
4. My third year directing prof whose name rhymes with “Penis".
This woman was hands down the worst teacher I ever had. She was manipulative, nasty, dismissive and felt threatened by women. I think she was just trying to cover up her own fear that she was a total fraud, but that’s no excuse for the crap she pulled on students. Being a masochist, I generally enjoyed being put down in the name of art, because when I was 19, I thought that’s what it took. A year of this woman’s constant put-downs and sarcasm, however, cured me of that notion. Do ya have to suffer for art? Possibly. But if you choose to suffer, it should be at your OWN hands, not in the hands of someone else. Some good learning there. Thanks, Penis.
5. Katr.
For many reasons, but at the moment she’s influencing me thus: I am occasionally afraid to try new things and am occasionally stingy about giving or sharing credit. Katr - isn’t. And she doesn’t really *get* people who are. I’m pretty good about taking risks on a personal level but she makes me want to take risks on a professional level. Which is exactly the kind of “Seriously? Just get ON it” energy I need right now.
She also taught me that New England is not actually a state - a piece of information that I know I will find valuable in the future, like at job interviews or when I apply to Mensa.
Looks like I’m going to have to save the bitching about local merchants until next time. As for tagging other bloggers to answer this fascinating question - I’m always shy to tag others. Berin - Chezza - Winter, if you feel like procrastinating from your thesis - Melissa, if the monkey feels like it - and I’m too shy to tag anyone else. NO PRESSURE, ladies.
8 Comments:
That shit WONT watch itself. Well, it will, but that’s like someone staring at their own navel. The fun only comes when the staring occurs with other people’s navels as subject.
I will play! I play well with others! I don’t even threaten to take my ball home. But this weekend, when I come back from the shopping vortex that is NYC.
Comment by Melissa — Wednesday, November 9, 2005 @ 8:43 pm
I saw a commercial for Starting Over on the NYC NBC affiliate. It was cut to appear all ominious and threatening, like the show isn’t a piece o’ fluff. It was AWESOME.
Comment by Melissa — Thursday, November 10, 2005 @ 11:33 pm
The 5 women who have inspired me most…. hm I will have a go at this tag.
Comment by Winter — Friday, November 11, 2005 @ 1:21 am
Well,you two are very good sports.
Melissa, that’s HILARIOUS about the ad for Starting Over. Clearly, the NBC affiliate finds personal growth frightening. Perhaps they could use a stint at the Starting Over house. Have you sent your art in yet?
Comment by roro — Friday, November 11, 2005 @ 4:50 pm
nice list…though god knows, I wasn’t sure what was coming first. Armageddon or your list!
now it’s time to update, girl! how about going on and on about how great your gf is? or giving me the story about how you met–I read a little somewhere on your blog…a personal ad and boom! you’re in love. it can’t be that simple!
Comment by newyorkex — Sunday, November 13, 2005 @ 12:39 pm
Roro, this is HARD! I will try.
Comment by E-dawg — Sunday, November 13, 2005 @ 9:11 pm
I’m on it! Ok, maybe in a week or so I’ll actually do it, but I’m ON IT!!!!
Comment by Chezza — Monday, November 14, 2005 @ 3:21 pm
Oooo .. post the story about how we met. The “insurance guy” version
Katicus (the gf)
Comment by Queen Katicus — Monday, November 14, 2005 @ 5:09 pm