I started reading Lady’s Hands, Lion’s Heart: A Midwife’s Saga last night, and the first chapter that opens with her personal birth story brought me to tears. Not more than 30 years ago, this woman who ached to birth in a way that honored her body and connected her to her child was left isolated, hot, and dehydrated; forced enemas, unnecessary shaving and cutting, and had her arms strapped down while she pushed (after she’d had the audacity to reach between her legs and feel her baby’s head coming down, helping to visualize the work she was doing and thus, ruining the “sterile field”); was wheeled down a hospital hallway on display while her baby was crowning, and finally suffered through her doctor’s comments about giving her the ol’ “husband’s stitch” (which left her numb in that spot for the rest of her life — thanks!) and calling her a breeder…so much ridiculousness that she signed herself and her infant out AMA a few hours after delivery and went on to become a wonderful homebirth midwife. And while my heart swells with pride and love remembering the births I had the supreme honor of attending, it aches with heaviness when I hear about the unnecessary interventions and brutal mistreatment that continue in hospitals even today. Birthing women are such a miraculous, powerful life force…it would just figure that the patriarchal society would have to figure out away to get that business “under control” somehow.
Once again, I’m reminded that I should go back through my journals and start putting together birth stories from my apprenticeship before the memories grow fuzzier than they already are…
Aside from my frustration over our country’s embarrassing infant mortality rate, and on a lighter note, I have actual updates for you! As usual, I find a comfortable niche and blog about it as if life has a set course for the next year or so, and the next time we meet everything has changed. Let’s start with projects, shall we?
First on the list – Project365. I got three solid weeks in of taking a daily photo and started having difficulty with my smart phone’s SD card, which which was also my primary photography tool. So, even though I have a perfectly lovely camera, albeit less convenient, I chose to flake out on the project. So there. But, T-Mobile being the awesome entity that they are, I not only got a brand spanking new phone free of charge, I got an upgrade! And the camera seems to be a bit better as well. Alas, out of excuses. I may start again when I have a nice beginning date to do so, say – perhaps March 1st. But don’t quote me.
Next, 52 Projects. I set a goal of completing at least one creative endeavor each week, give or take, meeting or exceeding a total of 52 by 2012. This project is going well. I have completed five projects to date and have another three or so that can be finished up relatively quickly.
- Upcycled gift tags: I recycled holiday cards into fancy gift tags for next year. Easy.
- Knitted red fingerless gloves: a set for myself from a mottled red-orange autumny yum yarn.
- Knitted yellow fingerless gloves: amazing mustard yellow. I experimented with the pattern a bit and made these elbow length. They didn’t turn out wholly as I intended, but playing with the design was good practice and I’ll wear them regardless.
- Tin shrine: I made a tiny shrine from a mint tin with 50′s ladies and sequins. Actually, I still feel like I want to add something to it, so I’m not sure whether I should list it as completed, yet…
- Knitted lavender fingerless gloves: same waffle-stitch pattern, lovely lavender yarn, for my pal Heather. (They’re in an envelope H, I just haven’t ventured out to the PO yet!)
Click me for pictures of said projects!
I have another dark purple pair of the fingerless gloves that just need the seam stitched up to be added to the list and also which indicate that I need to get my knitting books out and advance my skill set. I’ve made at least 5 pairs of these in the past two months. I did cast on a simple a scarf last night to work on in front of the TV as needed. And as instructed by a spiritual mentor friend, I’m working on a writing project – a letter to myself from six months into the future. ‘Tis fun.
My goal to read 50 books rolled over from last year (I made it to 20-something in 2010). I’ve finished two: The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, and The Confession, by John Grisham. The Help was great; highly, highly recommend. Can I just say how much I adore my Kindle? The absolute best part is sampling! If you want to try a book you’re not sure about, you can read the first few chapters for free and just click ‘Buy’ if you want to continue after that…so awesome!! The highlighting feature is handy as well. But, I digress. I started the midwifery book I mentioned at the beginning of the post, and am dabbling in subjects to improve my massage – Ayurveda, structural integration, and chronic pain relief. There’s a Buddhist book in there somewhere, too.
Now, for the fun news – I found and accepted a new and improved job! :] Although I really did enjoy working for both the school and chiropractic clinic, this is a single job focused solely on massage, which is what I went to school for and love to do. And the compensation is higher. And I’ll still have health benefits. And they have 401K matching. And vacation and sick pay. And I can trade or use my discount for a myriad of services. And it’s a super upscale and ritzy and FUN northwest spa! 
Thanks for reading, kiss kiss kiss, more very soon, I promise!
