My Mother's Friends

I blame my inclination toward polygamy on my Mother's friends. Odd that this would be the impression I got from powerful 70s era feminists but it is.

You see, I was always surrounded by the most fabulous women. It is a true wonder I'm not a lesbian. They doted on me in the coolest ways. I was shown my first September Vogue and Our Bodies Ourselves in the same week. I told how brilliant I was just as often as I was told I was pretty. I was encouraged to play dress up and I was encouraged to fight the power. In heels.

I was taught that being a woman in this world is risky business so don't bother playing it safe. Go where the boys go and walk like you have a switch blade in your pocket.

I don't recall being surprised by Thelma & Louise, that was how the women around me were as far back as the early 80s. All in their 50s now still forces to be reconed with.

I was taken to demonstrations on Parliment Hill, every embassy you can think of and marched many a picket line. I was also brought to Holt Renfrew and many a restaurant with many forks. There seemed to be a team of women around me at all times. I loved that.

I learned to jive and do the Time Warp and slam dance in the living room. I learned to love dancing and my body know matter what condition it is in simply because it is MINE.

I saw good women leave bad relationships and I learned from that. I saw good women loved well by good men and I learned from that too.

The women who surrounded me may not have been sister wives, but they taught me the meaning of sisterhood. Of solidarity and of raising children to be good people, to love life and who they are. To be strong and fight for good. Most of all I knew from go that other people love me.

The best thing of all about my Mumma's friends is that as I grew up they stopped being Mumma's friends and became mine.