How You Can Be a Strong (Alaskan) Woman
Hey Everyone! So good to be with you again. I’ve got a quick story for your week. And don’t worry if you’re neither Alaskan nor female: this is still for you! Because——-I think we’re all feeling a little bit helpless right now. A little overwhelmed. I was feeling the same. Here’s what happened.
I was off on a writing retreat last week. (YES! I finished the book proposal!)
I was avoiding people, stores, everything. Just focused on the writing and taking the occasional walk or drive. On a dash to the gas station one day I passed a man pushing his car across the street. It was a suburb beside a golf course, so there were lots of houses and cars around. But he was alone, struggling, trying to push and steer the dead car at the same time.
I jammed on my brakes, pulled over, jumped out and ran toward him. “Can I help?”
He looked up. His face was red, nearly as red as his shirt. He was of retirement age and large. He looked to me like a heart attack patient. I must have looked like—-a woman? I was wearing a long skirt and sandals.
In the next second he scowled at me and waved his arm dismissively. “NO!!! I can’t have a woman pushing my car!”
I stopped, incredulous. And I nearly laughed. It was a little car. I knew I could push it one-handed. Did he mean he wouldn’t survive the embarrassment of a woman helping him? Did he mean that because I was half his size he thought I would hurt myself and then sue him? He saw my face, then added, “Uhhhh, no offense, lady, but I can’t be having a woman help me.”
What could I say to convince him? Then I knew: “Hey, I’m from Alaska. I’m a commercial fisherman. I can help you,” I announced firmly.
I saw him squint at me in surprise. I stood with my hands on my hips. He gave up and waved his arm in defeat.
“Where we are going with this?” I called as he got into the car to steer it.
“Just across the road over there.”
I set my arms, leaned and there we were rolling at a good pace. I was ready to go on down the street and up the hill in front of us, just to make a point. Then a truck stopped, two young guys jumped out and pushed beside me. Now we could have steamed up a mountain!
We got the car where he wanted it. He put it in park and got out. I strode back to my car. He called after me, begrudgingly, “Uhhhh, thanks, Alaska woman!”
I still smile when I think of it. (“I can’t be having a woman help me!” ) I didn’t tell him I was just recovering from covid. And I didn’t quite tell the truth. I hardly go out to work in the fishing skiffs anymore. But I used to. And I’ve built houses, all that.
I want to give the guy a break. He lives in a golf course suburb. Maybe he doesn’t know any strong women. Maybe he doesn’t know any women who lift weights. Maybe he doesn’t know any women who work hard and women who work out. (How is this possible?)
But here’s what I want to say. First, women, if someone turns you away from helping because they think you’re too weak or small, I give you permission to use my line: “Hey! I’m from Alaska! I’m a commercial fisherman!” (This, of course, works for you men as well.)
And second:I know I’m sending this tiny story out into a world where so many forces are overwhelming us: 100,000 Russian troops are amassed at the Ukrainian border, inflation is running wild, covid still rages. It’s all too much for us. And it makes us feel weak.
But a guy needs help pushing a car across the road. Your neighbor needs someone to shovel his walkway. Laura hasn’t had a home-cooked meal for weeks. Beryl can’t carry her luggage by herself. And you help, yes? You’re writing your family’s stories to give as a gift. You send a card to the woman who just lost her husband. You call your elderly aunt who will tell you the same three stories again and again. But you call anyway. Because you’re strong. By which I mean, you’re kind. You’re loving.
Love is our strength. This is our greatest strength.
And it’s a strength that moves mountains. It’s a strength that has already moved mountains in your life, has it not?
(It can even move grumpy men and little cars.)
No matter what comes, as long as we’re powered by Love, we’re going to be okay.
Mighty Friends! What mountain can your love move this week?
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