1. In the mid-60s, my mom’s first job out of library school was at the Chicago Public Library on Michigan Avenue. She was a reference librarian. A man came in and complained that there was a “nigger” sitting at the reference desk. Her boss explained: “That is Mrs. F. If you want help with your reference question, you will have to ask her”. I can’t imagine the loneliness of being a 25-year old woman of color in the early 60s in an all white industry just trying to do her job in a world not yet used to her presence.
2. My mom knew at the altar that she shouldn’t have married my dad, but she did it anyway. At some point early on she started to plan her escape. She wanted to be as far away from my dad as possible without leaving the United States. Her two options were Hawaii and Alaska; both states brand new to the Union. She hated the cold, so she chose Hawaii. She applied for a job at the University of Hawaii and got it. She packed up and moved there without ever having stepped foot in the islands.
3. She announced her departure on the morning of her flight to Honolulu. Her bags were packed, a job lined up and a two-year old me in tow. As a special touch, she had purchased a one-way first class airline ticket.
4. When she got to Honolulu she purchased her first ever car. Not just any car. But an MG Midget, her dream car. A two-seater convertible, British Racing Green. She didn’t know how to drive stick, so she had the salesman give her a quick lesson before she drove off the lot. I remember driving down Ala Moana Boulevard in that car, with the wind in my toddler hair.
5. May we all have the willingness to step into the unknown and be our best badass selves.
Wow. Awesome Badass Mom. Thanks for this on Mother’s Day.