Women's Work the store into a story

     Yesterday, I went to a gathering of women with at least one connection between us. The purpose of the meeting was unclear but the hostess did pose some questions for each attendee to answer as a way of introduction. What is your greatest passion? How do you make a difference in the world? What do you do to affect a change?

     Because of my proximity, I went second. I followed someone who was very present in their job, as the event was actually held at her place of employment. Nevertheless, she promoted events coming up and as this was her job, she did it well. I followed her and took her lead.

     I talked about the work I've done over the past 10 years as retailer/wholesaler, working with women to bring them economic development. I talked about my involvement with AAUW and the Live Your Dream Conference. I told them about the Women's Leadership Alliance and the yearly International Women's Day Walk and how women from Cambodia would be supplying the giveaways to this year's event.

     One woman after another was retired from teaching, occupational therapy, politics. One woman whose children have grown now wondered what to do with herself. And as each woman spoke, I realized, I had been dishonest. I had not talked about what I was currently doing, but what I had been doing. Who I was.

     This was my first outing as a writer and I'm still trying to get my feet planted firmly beneath my new identity. Each day, I make an adjustment, take a step in the direction I am headed, but my footing is unstable. Sometimes I take a step back.

     I grapple with the idea of selling more crafts, buying more stock, answering emails about products, agreeing to get involved with one economic development project after another. I don't know how to stop, how to slow down, how to back away gracefully...and I wonder if I want to.

     I was Women's Work for so long. But I had been a writer/journalist for far longer, so why does it feel so foreign?

     Last night, I took a step out and realized just how vulnerable I am. Many of the women there had never met me, been to my store, had any expectations and so why did I feel the need to BE that person? It shocked me and made me sad and today, in the cold light of day, it also made me think.

     Since I was in Second Grade, I wanted to be a writer. I went to college to be a journalist. I graduated from CUNY Hunter with a communications degree with a minor in political science. I wanted to write human-interest stories, exposing injustices. I wanted to write to right the world's wrongs.

    After a few jobs at Random House, I quit to write the Great American Novel, then returned to reality and NY to work for Scholastic. That's when my words would finally appear in print and where I wrote for three children's classroom magazines until my daughter was born. I continued to freelance for Scholastic, Children's Television Workshop, and others. I wrote instructional books, contributed to a game, and co-authored a children's book with my husband called, "Hit the Trail!" I've freelanced for American Girl magazine, had pieces in Redbook, contributed to McCalls, Newsweek (International), Ms. magazine and worked for a time at a parenting magazine put out by Nickelodeon. While in Africa, I wrote for various travel magazines and newspapers, and wrote marketing materials for the Tourism Department promoting Southern Africa. If not for a story assignment about the San Bushmen, I would not be where I am today.

I am a writer.  And it's up to me to write.

     My husband, who has always been so supportive, told me that all of my work in retail has been a great help to the artisans. But, he pointed out, if I wrote about it, their talents could reach hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of people, and that would impact the women's lives substantially.

     I was given a passion for writing and a hell of a story to tell. The next step in this journey is to get it down and get it out and have it read.

     So, if I could reintroduce myself, I am a writer.

And I hope you’ll join me as I take a step away from “Women’s Work” the store and move into
telling it as my story.