Queen Bees to Pussy Power

When my grandmother died, I received some jewelry from her in a box of all sorts of jumbled jewels and beads. Mamaw loved her "Ear Bobs" and never left home without them. Mind you, these were cumbersome clip-ons for the most part of colorful pearly beaded clusters. I remember her wearing them, along with matching strands of beaded necklaces. Among the collection, were several Bee pins. These were very pretty rhinestones and semi precious stones set in rose gold with delicate wings and bodies. They were beautiful, simple, and elegant. Not knowing of any specific meaning, I gifted two of them to successful women friends who are special in my life. We often joked about being Queen Bees!
At the time I owned and operated a successful restaurant. I had a good customer, Bobbie, that frequently wore beautiful Bee pins and gave me a beautiful topaz bee pin. She told me this amazing history of the Queen Bee.
During the 1900's when women were seeking the right to vote, they had to be cautious in their appeal to other women and the public, even their husbands. She would be ostracized to speak openly. Her husband could be fired and would surely ask her to be quiet. Obviously women did speak and organize among themselves behind closed doors and in women's gatherings at church, clubs, neighborhoods, and such. To show their support for Women's Rights, they wore a Bee pin on their lapels or hats. They would nod at each other with a comforting smile when they saw this pin. They were bonded in a sisterhood of progress. This simple bee pin was worn in The United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, perhaps other countries.
I realized that although these pins were left to me by my grandmother, they belonged to her mother, Betty.. We called her Biggie, southern and sweet for Big Mama I suppose. I can imagine her wearing it proudly to her synagogue and bridge club. I can see that sideways smile and side cast eyes as she acknowledged this secret sisterhood of the Queen Bees.
Yes, the women did make progress and in 1919 the right for women to vote was passed in the USA. Women began to cast their votes in the USA in 1920.
Women had their voice and the secret society became a viable source, they could vote!
January 2017 women continue to seek more rights, more equality, more autonomy. no longer silenced, the symbol of the bee is unknown. My Biggie would be amazed at the symbol women have chosen today to continue their empowerment thrust by wearing Pussy hats on their heads and marching down the streets with their daughters and husbands. Yep, No pretty Queen Bee on the lapel or hat, but a Pink Vagina-Pussy hat atop their head! This is not so shocking for society now. Hollywood and the music world has made this word mainstream lingo among men, women, and teens. The shock factor has long faded from the interchange of vagina and pussy. Entertainers briefly clad gyrate, hump, grab, and flaunt the pure power of this orifice which most women learn by their teens. These entertainers have empowered women more with the flaunting of Pussy power by acknowledging it as a weapon of control. So women, around the world,  disillusioned with the newly elected President, knitted up pink Pussy hats, popped them on their heads, and marched on major streets proclaiming their power. Many of my friends support this Pussy on the head as a brilliant stance. Many of my friends are appalled at the degradation..
I just wish they were all educated to the Bees..

2017 Resolution- Self Righteous Me

A friend was telling me that this year they have decided to "Try not to be an Ass Hole" hmmm
I do not describe my friends as that, but hey, trying to improve is a good thing. I thought about some things that annoy me about my self and decided it is my tendency to be self righteous at times. I am not sure I do it a lot because I never held back on my opinions, but sometimes I think I get self righteous. I get that icky, closed throat sinking ship in a wave wave come over me when I realize I have done this. I do not like it in anyone so naturally I am ashamed when I do it myself.
I am trying to retrain my brain and my heart to stop thinking that way.
When someone tells me their woes, I need to just hear their woes and not immediately justify that that will never happen to me because I am so righteous. Makes me laugh now when I think of some of the bad decisions I have made.
This protective shield is not protective at all. It is deflective and screams the other person is a failure, a nit wit, a deserving failure.
Hopefully I can retrain that part of me.