I am woman!

Helen Reddy's 1971 classic song by the same title was embraced as a song of solidarity for women's rights and the feminist movement. "I am woman hear me roar in numbers too big to ignore. And I know too much to go back an' pretend..." I am never surprised by the issues that make it into the presidential election rhetoric. We have heard about contraception, gas prices, wealth, taxes, unemployment, the economy, citizenship, immigration, GSA spending, and a host of other topics.

Now the discussion is centered on the "war on women." I don't know which party is actually waging this war but it doesn't seem to be limited to the opposite sex waging the war (as you would expect.) Seems as though some women have issues with other women's "woman-ness."

For centuries, women were dominated by men. Religions allowed or even required it; cultures embraced and practiced it; and, even in modern times, we see evidence of inequality between men and women practiced and condoned. Laws have been passed in the US disallowing gender discrimination but, the dirty little reality is that it still exits today. While I would love to delve into this aspect of the conversation, this isn't what I want to discuss in this post. Maybe next time.

Hilary Rosen, lobbyist, Democrat strategist and pundit, made a comment about Ann Romney, the wife of the likely Republican candidate that has stirred up the conversation concerning women. Mitt Romney stated that he sought his wife's counsel on economic issues. Ms. Rosen took issue with this by saying, "Guess what? His wife has actually never worked a day of her life. She's never really dealt with the kinds of economic issues that a majority of the women in this country are facing, in terms of how do we feed our kids, how do we send them to school, and why do we worry about their future."

Ms. Rosen eventually apologized for her poor choice of words and the seeming attack on Ann Romney who is generally perceived as a non-controversial figure. The talking heads on both sides of the political and ideological spectrum have chimed in on the issue. So, I might as well join in.

Rosen may have had a legitimate argument that Mitt's wife may not really know what it is like to be in the economic shoes of most American women simply because the Romneys are very wealthy (I don't believe the Romneys have always lived the opulent lifestyle, however, the memories of Ramen Noodles for supper are probably a distant memory.) But that's not the point from which she qualified her remarks. She said that Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life. Wow. One should be skeptical when you hear people use words like all, never, always, everyone, etc. because these absolute words are often used in an inaccurate, adolescent fashion. "Mom, you never let me go anywhere!" Of course we expect more from people like Hilary Rosen...she is, after all, a professional.

Is there a perception by some women that a woman who has not pursued a professional career is somehow a lesser woman? Are people simply being patronizing when they say that they applaud stay-at-home wives or moms? What about some other possible qualifiers. Do "real women" need to eventually marry? Can you be a "real woman" if you never have children? We know that these stereotypes also exist.

In my view, the crux of Hilary Rosen's remarks were that a woman must have a career in order to be qualified to participate in "serious" conversations. Oh sure, non-career woman can discuss their favorite brand of vacuum cleaner, best spray starch and  most effective laundry detergent but don't you dare have anything to say about the federal deficit or the problem with mortgage backed securities. Sure, you stay-at-home moms can discuss poopy diapers, the best remedy for colic and sibling rivalry but you should just butt out of the adult discussions about world politics and national security. Unfortunately, feminine elitism is alive and well.

I'm a guy so, it is obvious that I am not really qualified to say what it takes to be a woman. But, I have been surrounded by many remarkable women my entire life. My grandmother was a nursing home owner and was like a mother to me, my sister is an executive with an insurance company, my daughter is a certified schoolteacher, my wife Carol was a self-employed master barber before she became a 20+ year stay-at-home Mom who also home schooled both our children and is now a media clerk at a middle school. Carol's value and standing as a competent, smart woman was not and is not determined by her marital status, her occupation or her childbearing. Being married to me simply gave her the additional titles of "wife and partner." Having Jessica and Michael added "Mama" to her titles. But, she is 100% woman with no further accreditation required by either you or me because that's what God made her to be. And she has every bit as much right to engage in any discussion she feels competent to participate in.

ATTENTION: Turn signals do not lower your MPG

If you have filled your car up with gasoline lately, you have probably experienced sticker shock. Gasoline prices are near or, in some states, over $4.00 per gallon. My truck holds 22 gallons of gas. Do the math. The first new car I ever bought ( that came with a payment coupon book) was a 1974 aqua blue Chevrolet Camaro. My monthly payments were $134 a month. I now spend more in gas for my truck each month than what I used to pay to buy an entire car.

People are concerned with their fuel mileage. Some have traded in their older vehicles for newer models or hybrids or electric cars to lower their fuel costs.

Apparently, some drivers think they can conserve fuel by not using some of the comfort features of their cars. We all know that using your air conditioner puts added strain on the engine, thereby using more fuel. Now, I'm no electrical or mechanical engineer but I am pretty certain that not using you radio won't do much to help your car's fuel efficiency. Based on the extremely loud thumping sounds I hear from some vehicles with very tall, shiny rims, most folks continue to "turn it up."

But, did anyone advise people to not use their turn signals?

What the heck is up with people and turn signals? I know that it is incredibly inconvenient to use them. I mean, you have to lean across the seat, open the glove box and push a button to activate them. Oh wait, that's not right...the turn signal lever is on the steering column 1.786 inches from your hand. Gee, what an effort that requires.

Many drivers today have no common courtesy (or common sense.) Georgia law requires that you turn on your headlights when it is raining. The law also requires that you use your turn signals when you turn or change lanes. I think the reason that many drivers ignore these two mandates is because headlights when raining and turn signals don't actually benefit them...it is for the benefit of other drivers. And really, who gives a rat's chapeau about other drivers anymore?

Have you ever been at a stop sign trying to make a right hand turn and had to wait for the traffic coming from your left to pass so that you could make your move? Of course you have. But there is always that car approaching from your left that is moving fast enough that you believe that it is going straight so you wait. And then the car (with no turn signal on) turns right onto your street. Had you known, you could have already turned. But you didn't and now there are more cars coming and you still can't turn. Maybe they didn't put turn signals on that particular model of car. Sure.

I asked someone one time why they didn't use their turn signals (I still call them blinkers)...told me they were saving gas by using less electricity. You know, there should be some intelligence testing element to the driving test.

Hey, if you are going to turn your vehicle, how about letting us know about it...and not just 2 yards before you actually do it? Also, don't ride around with your turn signals on if you are NOT turning. That's even worse.

Thank you. I feel better

Well, it's springtime in the valley...

Dave Loggins wrote a song in 1981 about Augusta Georgia's most famous event. I have always wondered in the years since whether he gets paid every time CBS breaks for a commercial and returns because the music to that song is always played. That's a lot of airtime. When the song was first released, I can't say that I was a fan of the song...thought the lyrics were pretty corny. I certainly didn't think it was as good as his 1974 hit "Please come to Boston." Over the years (and after hearing the instrumental thousands of times during the Masters telecasts) it has grown on me. After all, it is about the place I have called home for the last 40 years.

There is something unique about the first week of April in Augusta, Georgia. I know that other places go through transformations getting prepared for marquee events. But what happens in Augusta is something to behold. First, Mother Nature gets involved with an explosion of color from dogwoods and azaleas and a host of other flowering beauty. Sometimes, if the timing hits just right (or better stated...wrong ) we also get a dose of pine pollen that covers our landscape, cars, pets and homes like a yellow blanket of volcanic ash. Allergy sufferers beware.

Augustans love Masters Week. The local school systems always align their spring break with Masters Week. That week is always the first full week of April. Monday practice rounds always start between April 2 and April 8. The Augusta National hires so many high school students to work the concession stands, outdoor pro shops, to pick up trash, work in the warehouses and a host of other duties, that the schools would be partially empty anyway if school wasn't on break. Some small businesses close that week because the store owners can make more money doing Masters related work. Augustans work at the National as scorers, gallery guards, drivers and media runners.

People have also been renting their homes out to Masters guests for years. Lifelong friendships have been forged by these longstanding arrangements. Some people trade the use of their homes with Masters patrons that have homes at the beach or near ski resorts. They come and watch golf, we leave and go ski.

Folks in Augusta have always taken a lot of pride in their homes and properties but, the coming of Masters Week brings on an unprecedented amount of landscaping and remodeling activity. Flowers are planted, new mulch is put down and lawns are perfectly manicured. Augusta gets all dressed up for this special event.

From 1983 until 2008, we owned a home that was right in the middle of the Masters bustle. There are now two primary patron walk-in gates into the tournament...Gate 6 and Gate 9, both on Berkmans Road. Our house was about 150 yards from Gate 9. For years, our neighborhood was some of the most sought after parking near the Augusta National. Living on Heath Drive during Masters Week was an invigorating experience. It was like a huge block party. People everywhere. We saw some of the same people come back and park in the same spots every year. Neighbors were outside waving cars into their front and back yards all the while stuffing cash into their pockets....you have to love the free enterprise system.

Over the years, the Augusta National began buying up property in the neighborhood around Berkmans Rd, Heath Drive, Cherry Lane and Stanley Drive. At first, nobody really knew what was going on...just some obscure home purchases by companies with names like Berkmans Limited Partners or something resembling that. Eventually it became known that it was actually the Augusta National buying the properties and things got quite interesting. Slowly, more and more homes were bought and more and more homes were torn down since the National's intent for the property was free patron parking space. Years later, looking out across the street from our old house we no longer saw the homes formerly occupied by old friends named Slick and Sim and Red but, rather, beautiful pastoral land that resembled the rolling landscape at the next-door golf course. No surprise...this land is adjacent to the former Fruitland Nurseries, which is the property that eventually became the Augusta National Golf Club. But, sadly, it marked the end of a 60 year old neighborhood.

Masters Week in Augusta is a very big deal. This relatively small town takes on a much more cosmopolitan flavor one week each year. Parties, charity concerts, hospitality events, prayer breakfasts, and so many more wonderful activities occur this special week. Oh, and I understand that there is a golf tournament that takes place too.

"Well, it's springtime in the valley on Magnolia Lane..."