A Woman's Place . . . ?

Marlo Brown of Salt Lake City, Utah

                                                ----Photo, courtesy of Beth Thompson Bruce

International Women's Day 2019

I don't spend a lot of time, thinking about special days to honor the women of the world. 

Like most women, I'm too busy, thinking about all the other stuff that needs to be done between dawn and when I collapse into bed each night. 

It's been that way, forever, it seems. 

Still, as a retiree, even though busy, I do have a little more time to pay attention to all the days that honor women, dogs, twinkies/pizzas, horses, siblings, spouses . . . .

Yes, thoughts/reminders of International Women's Day have flitted in and out of my mind over the past couple of days. 

And, with those reminders, sometimes my brain kicks into thinking mode, focusing on women in my life who have and who do make a difference in this world, in our nation, our region, our community, our family and even in our household. 

Each time that thought has come to mind, I come up with the same conclusion:  the list is infinite. 

And, for the most part, the women on this endless list do not fit into any specific mold.  

Happily, and probably more so today than at any time in my life,women who make a difference come in all shapes, forms, sizes, ages, ethnicities, religions, etc. 

Even the categories are as endless as the countless wonderful women. 

I admire women and have done so throughout my life. 

At any given time during my specific journey, different women have stood out, simply because of their courage, their example, their friendship, their genuine compassion, their unselfish generosity, thoughtfulness or help at crucial times or even because of something wonderfully remarkable that they have achieved. 

Sometimes, it's just because they're the sweetest, patient, saintlike person I think I've ever met.

On this year's International Women's Day, I would like to showcase a lovely young lady who has become uniquely special to me over the past year or so.

And, as with many of the women who appear in our lives along our life journey, Marlo Brown's addition to the wide swath of women I adore has happened for a reason. 

First, the sad part:  her father Cazzie Brown, an up-and-coming and beloved high school football coach in Salt Lake City, died suddenly in 2017 from West Nile Virus, leaving behind his wife Heather and three children Bishop, Judge and Marlo. 

To say it has been difficult for this family to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives, one day at a time, in the best way possible, is an understatement. 

Now, for the happy part:  Marlo's dad Cazzie inspired the name for our CB (Cazzie Brown). Because of that, Marlo has gotten acquainted with CB during visits to Sandpoint on three or four occasions over the last year. 

It's always a delightful joy to see young Marlo and young CB interact during these visits. 

It was also an equally joyful moment, during my early morning sip coffee/surf-the-web session, to see another avenue in which Marlo is moving on with her life, always inspired by her father's memory.

According to mom Heather and Grandma Beth (some of our family 'outlaws'), Marlo, who has been figure skating for three years, won a silver medal for her division in yesterday's portion of the Park City, Utah's, Intermountain Classic. 

She skated to music from The Greatest Showman, specifically "A Million Dreams."

Video available on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/beth.bruce.52/videos/10215176685462968/

Today Marlo will be competing with her synchronized ice-skating team at the Classic.

"They are getting ready for their big competition in Denver next weekend," Heather states. "She [Marlo] always talks about how the ice is her quiet place and that it gives her peace to glide on the ice." 

Yes, Miss Marlo is a young woman of the world who loves figure skating and, at the same time, doesn't mind one bit when her horse friend CB blows his nose in her face. 

Women are capable and free to pursue any of the "Million Dreams" available to them in this world. 

I can remember hearing for years, while growing up, the well-worn saying "a woman's place is in the home."  

I submit that the statement might possibly have been just a partial quote. 

A woman's place is in the home (baking cinnamon rolls for a recuperating hubby), on a tractor plowing out after yet another snow storm, skating on glassy, smooth ice, flying to Outer Space, speaking up in political circles, rearing her children the best way she knows how, climbing the tallest mountain, teaching the children, enforcing or interpreting the law . . . . it's an infinite list just like all the remarkable women in this world. 

So, Happy International Women's Day and GOOD LUCK TODAY, Marlo, from CB and the rest of us peeps and critters here at the Lovestead.