Happy Anniversaries

Yesterday Bill and I celebrated 14 years of marriage.  It's a big deal.  Being married isn't always an easy thing, and we've certainly had our ups and downs over the years.  I'm proud of us and happy to be married to him.

We left the kids with our ever capable and delightful housemate.  Then we took the train to the far away and exotic downtown Seattle.  Only 15 minutes from our own home we enjoyed the sunshine, delightful views, great food and each other's company (and a whole 24 hours without kids!!!!!).

Today is the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the one that gives women the right to vote.  I'm happy about it, too.  Like my marriage there are ups and downs with progress for women. Currently, I'm feeling less that pleased about our over all progress. Just today, two things are getting me down:
- Women being raped in their homes still qualifies as a joke.
- From Teaching Tolerance, a Southern Poverty Law Center publication:

Of course, women still have plenty to fight for, especially when it comes to economics. Most of them still get little respect in the job market. In 2008, the four top occupations for U.S. women were: secretary (or administrative assistant), K-8 schoolteacher, registered nurse and cashier. Even when women get jobs in male-dominated occupations, they still earn less.

Happy Anniversary to us.  May both our marriage and women's rights continue to blossom and grow in the coming years.