Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author
of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, soul nourishing romantic women’s fiction
that honors pagan spiritual practices. My stories show you what life could be
like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted,
supported and loved. And where, with this support, you do overcome obstacles and
find your happily-ever-after.
If your
2020 has gone much like mine, you are finding your second or maybe even your
third wind, that time when, in the midst of exhaustion and numbness, a burst of
magical energy and creativity shine through. One of the advantages in having
been around for many decades is that I know “this too shall pass.”
While I
wasn’t here in 1918, I was here and a child during the polio epidemic. I had
schoolmates that survived polio but could only walk with braces on their legs,
using a cane or walker. Other survivors lived their lives in iron lung
machines.
I
remember being “bummed out” during the hot summer months that we couldn’t go
swimming in the community pool. Somehow running through the sprinkler in our
backyard just wasn’t the same. I also remember the sugar cube with the Salk
vaccine.
In the early 1960’s I
couldn’t complete my Student Teaching, the only thing left for my Bachelor of
Arts degree because I was pregnant with my son. Teachers who became pregnant
during a school year, lost their positions. The thinking at that time (of school
boards (male dominated) school superintendents (men) and principals (all male)) was that it was harmful for children to be exposed to pregnant teachers.
Domestic violence, sexual
harassment, stalking did not exist because there were no laws that named it or
said it was wrong. When I was in a domestic violence situation in the 1960’s
and went to the police, I was told I “belonged” to my husband and I should go
home because there was nothing they could do. A husband had the right to hit
his wife.
Why am I going on and on
about the past?
Vote Vote Vote Vote Vote
Because a couple of weeks
ago, Tuesday, August 18th, marked the 100th Anniversary
of the passing of the 19th Amendment ensuring a Woman’s Right
To Vote. White and Black Women had been asking, demonstrating and protesting
for the right to vote since Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Vote Vote Vote Vote Vote
Celebrating the passing of
the 19th Amendment to our Constitution in many ways seems like it
happened centuries ago but the fact is I’m the 3rd generation in my
family who has had the right to vote. I may be off a generation because I don’t
know for sure if my great grandmother voted. When my great granddaughter is of
age and votes, she will be the 5th or maybe 6th
generation to benefit the passing of the 19th Amendment.
What does all of this have
to do with Hope, Romance The Genre’s
topic/writing prompt for September?
Vote Vote Vote Vote Vote
Today being
able to vote has given women the opportunity to be heard, to see changes made
to protect themselves and generations of women to come. The opportunity to take
positions of leadership, to be active in their communities beyond their
children’s classrooms, church auxiliaries, husband’s organization’s wives
clubs.
Today if
I went to the police with bruises from my husband’s fists, I would not be told
I belonged to him and to go home. There are shelters and resources to help me
and my child recover and get back on our feet.
Today if
I was in college or teaching and became pregnant, I could continue my
education, my profession until I went into labor should I choose to do so.
Vote Vote Vote Vote Vote
Today I can vote. I’m
fortunate to live in Oregon, a state that has had Vote By Mail for over 20
years; a state that registers a person when they get their driver’s license; a
state that gives voters the option of taking their ballot to an official ballot
drop off box. I’ve never missed voting since I turned 21 and was eligible to do
so however, being able to complete my ballot in the privacy of my home has been
a blessing as I’ve aged. And in these days of Covid-19’s increasing numbers due
to community spread, I feel safer and that my life, my health and well-being
matters to my local and state governments. I do still take my ballot to the library less
than a mile from my home so I can personally drop it into the ballot box.
One of the gifts of living a
longer life is Hope because I’ve seen change not only in the decades I’ve been
alive but in the lives of my grandmother’s generation.
If you are feeling events
are whirling out of your control, you are right. If you want to be in more
control of those whirling events, consider purchasing my first non-fiction Staying
Sane in a Crazy World.
Here are a couple of reviews
that were posted on Amazon:
This is a short book but packed with good
information about focusing on what you can and can't control. It provides a way
for you to develop your own plan to keep you going every day. The author asks
good questions to consider and leads you through the process of looking at the
world in a different perspective and by the end you can feel that you are not
lost in a world out of control.
This short read is chock full of helpful
information and ideas to help the reader reclaim peace and calm in the
craziness of day to day living. Straight-forward, to the point – no nonsense
mumbo-jumbo. I can’t wait to put some of these ideas and strategies into
action.
You can
find all of my books at your favorite e-book vendor. Be sure to ask your local
library if you’d prefer to read my books through that resource.
© 2020 Judith
Ashley
