1st December 1999
Lani Guinier, Sue Leonard, Gladys Chang Brazil, Margie Adam, Alice Slater and Danielle Donovan (behind the camera)
Back in September, in my Personal Message, I mentioned going on an “extraordinary trip” with 200 readers of The Nation. Well, here’s the story. I’m sure all of us intended to go on a simple vacation cruise with other Nation magazine readers through Alaska’s Inside Passage… just 200 progressives cruising the Alaskan fjords and chatting endlessly about politics at dinner. But then, Gladys asked a question at one of the panels and none of the male panelists could answer it. Bingo! I made a beeline to her and asked if she wanted to get the women on the cruise together to talk since there were clearly so many women of accomplishment and experience present. Sue stepped up next to me and said “Let’s post announcements for a Women’s Caucus.” Danielle suggested “Let’s call every woman we’ve met since we came on board.” 24 hours later 75 women showed up at the appointed meeting place and created a list of issues we wanted to discuss.Those of us in the photo met with The Nation staff and together we came up with a plan that changed the format, demographics and agenda of the last panel. Alice became the moderator, Gladys took a seat on the panel and Lani (already on the panel) facilitated breaking this unwieldy group of Lefties into small groups for feminist ie. democratic and inclusive discussion of Millenium Strategies for Progressives.
It was a truly remarkable demonstration of empowered women’s energy, expertise and generosity bursting through in a totally unexpected circumstance. Oh, and the fjords and glaciers were also pretty awesome! I was carrying this inspiring energy with me as I began my Fall Tour almost immediately after the cruise.
I thought I’d be driving a couple of hours from Northampton, MA to Portland, ME. between concerts. I don’t know where I got that idea. Perhaps I should have picked up a map before I headed out. Let’s just say I drove the backroads for many hours and fully experienced small town New England. It was the beautiful fall foliage that kept me from tearing my hair out as I tried unsuccessfully to follow the directions I was given by the locals. Luckily I had a day to unwind before the GLAD benefit in Portland.
Here’s Toni Armstrong Jr., Women’s Music Historian extraordinaire, in her most amazing bath salon. When she showed me this room in her traditional home I was so dumbstruck by how cool it was I asked her to climb in the tub and let me photograph the room with her in it. What a pleasure to stay at Toni’s house while in Chicago for a concert and see the rooms where the venerable Hot Wire magazine was published for so many years.
As promised to my audiences….Here they are: Margie & Minnie! No moment was more mood-altering this Fall than this encounter with Minnie Mouse at Disneyland. Can you tell I’m squealing with delight?! Well, maybe there was one other moment….on the Rocket Rods, a high-speed thrill ride. Anyone out there as “thrilled” by this ride as I was? Serious G-force speed. It was like getting a massage for me-completely relaxing. Others were screaming. Hah!