Season 27 (2022)
“Cottonwood trees grew along the banks in a solid arrangement, their leaves upturned like the hands of beggars, open to the sky and waiting for rain.”
- from Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
BOOKSHELF + COMMUNITY
On a rainy Sunday this past weekend, I listened to a talented author named Kali Fajardo-Anstine read from her newest book, Woman of Light at an independent bookstore.
Woman of Light is a multi-generational story set in Colorado in the late 1800s and progresses into the 1930s as the life of the main character, Luz, unfolds alongside her dynamic family.
In the wake of a post-Roe v. Wade United States, this book is a poignant reminder of how women have endured racism, sexism, regulations on their bodies, and expectations for how to behave, causing them to question their value on this earth. Even through these unthinkable experiences, women have been able to find light in darkness and share that light with others.
“Outside is the big world, and sometimes the little world succeeds in reflecting the big one so that we understand it better.”
-from Ingmar Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander and featured in the epigraph for Women of Light
The author’s goal in her writing is to teach readers by sharing her own personal stories through her historical fiction writing. She told the audience at the author talk that many of the stories in the book are based on the stories from her grandmothers.
I’m constantly in awe of the power of books. Stories can transform our experiences by seeing them as a reflection of our own lives or to see someone else's story reflected back to us. Through that reflection, bits of truth shine back to us so that we may learn the pieces of history that help us to see the whole story.
If you’d like to read more about Kali Fajardo-Anstine, be sure to check out the link below. I plan to listen to the interviews on her website so that I might learn more about her writing process and research for her books.
She mentioned in the author talk that music is a part of her writing process. You might find her walking while crafting her story in her mind with a healthy dose of Patsy Cline in her ears. Here are a few playlists to listen to while you read the book to help set the mood. You could add some Patsy Cline as a nod to the author.
Desert Night Sleep on Spotify
Desert Drifters - Ambient Americana on Spotify
Be sure to check out Women of Light (offered in both English and Spanish on Bookshop.org) as well as her first book, a collection of short stories called Sabrina and Corina, and the engaging audiobook versions by clicking the links below.
Audiobook versions of Women of Light* and Sabrina and Corina* on Libro.fm
This July 4th has a new meaning for women in this country after Friday’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. The reproductive rights of women were changed in a historic way on Friday. The freedoms and reproductive rights that I’ve had for my entire life here in the State of Texas are now being taken away.
As we celebrate our nation’s beginnings next week, we must also understand the full story of the United States. The history of the United States yields a complex, often horrifying look at the abuse of power, racism, and suffering by those whose blood, sweat, and tears are woven into the foundation of building this nation.
A Founding Contradiction podcast episode on The Hidden Brain
“(Pidre) couldn’t help but think that Anglos were perhaps the most dangerous storytellers of all - for they believed only their own words and they allowed their stories to trample the truths of nearly every other man on Earth.”
-from Women of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Yet, even today, with all of that knowledge, sexism, racism, and hate are spreading like wildfire.
To me, true freedom means choices. You do not have to agree with my choices, because they are my own, but you can be respectful and honor the choices that are best for my own body. You can make your choices, too. That’s freedom. I’m tired of women’s bodies being pawns in a game of political chess.
I heard the term “proximity to concern” recently that caught my attention. When we are removed from having to make certain choices due to gender, age, race, or class, we may find those choices to be unimportant or in the case of politicians this distance from the actual experience allows them to wield these freedoms as weapons to hurt others that get in the way of their political agenda.
I continue to fight for myself, the women in my life, and also for a whole generation of young people who are faced with a future where choices are limited.
Please continue to do your research, to lend a hand, to speak up and most importantly, VOTE. Call on your representatives to give women choices in how they take care of their bodies.
What Does Dirty Dancing Have to Do With Abortion? (*link has sound)
True Independence Demands Reproductive Freedom
Black women bear the brunt of abortion limits
Turning the abortion issue on its head, Gabrielle Blair has a new book available for pre-order called Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion. You can read more about her book on her website Design Mom.
“Highly readable, accessible, funny, and unflinching, Blair builds her argument by walking readers through the basics of fertility (men are 50 times more fertile than woman), the unfair burden placed on women when it comes to preventing pregnancy (90% of the birth control market is for women), the wrongheaded stigmas around birth control for men (condoms make sex less pleasurable, vasectomies are scary and emasculating), and the counterintuitive reality that men, who are fertile 100% of the time, take little to no responsibility for preventing pregnancy.”
I’m also sharing the book below (yet again!) to provide a glimpse into what life was like for women in a time before Roe V. Wade. The fight is upon us once again to protect our bodies and choices as women.
HOME + TRAVEL
We could all travel a little lighter in this world. I love the idea of owning less, so that the objects in our life don’t own us. (*link has sound)
Next week I’ll share our favorite places from our Kaua’i trip. Be sure to click the subscribe button below this post to receive the 52 Seasons weekly blog post in your inbox on Fridays.
GARDEN + NATURE
Curious about urban fruit foraging? Check out the Falling Fruit map.
WELLNESS + CREATIVITY
Interested in supporting your favorite artists? Wondering how to help?
Purchase their work. If they’re an author, buy their book at an independent bookstore (not Amazon), recommend their book at your next book club meeting, or tell your friends about the book. Visit a local artisan’s market or farmers’ market to purchase local artwork or handcrafted items.
See if your favorite artist has a Patreon page.
Look on their YouTube Channel for a way to support them through Paypal or just like, subscribe, or tell others about their channel.
If they are on Instagram, look to see if they have an option to Venmo a little cash to say thank you for their content.
Support films that are written by, directed by, or that include actors and actresses in marginalized communities and from areas around the world by watching them and spreading the word to others.
Check GoFundMe to see if a project that inspires you needs financial support.
Many bloggers, like myself, pay for their website and administrative expenses through the purchase of products on the site like my 52 Season Bookshop.org bookstore* (which also supports independent bookstores and authors, so it’s a win-win!)
How are you supporting your favorite artists? Share in the comments below.
I read once that if there is something that you want to do, but you're not sure how to get there, just begin.
Writing blog posts for 52 Seasons is a creative journey into the expressions that come from my heart: writing, photography, tending a garden, immersing myself in nature, reading stories from voices that need to be heard and sharing them with others, keeping a home, being an advocate for education and basic human rights, and sharing resources with others.
Enjoy your weekend!
Get involved in your community. VOTE. Speak out. Volunteer. One small action can create momentum for change.
“Do your little bit of good where you are. It’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” -Desmond Tutu