#jam&jerusalem

My new friend/contact with the residency invited me to “Ladies’ Night” tomorrow night. I was very excited to be invited to something social as these frigid temps are starting to make me feel a bit cagey. What endeared her to me was that when uttering the words “ladies night” she rolled her yeux really hard, and altered her voice a bit. My response was, “Yes, yes I will go to this gathering, and I will also appreciate this exchange for a very long time.”

My experience with women’s groups or organizations is fairly non-existent. I was a Brownie for about 48 hours, as I found the schedule of cookie making really cut into my building crap and exploring the living creatures in the pond across the road. I wanted to be a Boy Scout. They did stuff. Brownies just lived up to their snacky namesake. 

I have never been in a sorority or anything purely female, except the random writing seminar or barre class. However, I am fascinated by leagues and charitable organizations run by and for strictly women. I am also a very huge fan of Clatterford (a.k.a. Jam & Jerusalem), a short-lived, star studded BBC series which follows the lives and foibles of the ladies’ auxiliary group in a small English village. I have wanted to live in that town since it aired in 2006. I just re-watched it last year, and it not only holds up, but is now even more relevant.

The timeliness of this invite just occurred to me. I will be happy to hang out with some madamoiselles et madames. While my friends are making signs and organizing transport to one of the many stateside marches, I will be with them in spirit. 

Lest we forget the Women’s March on Versailles in 1789. ( Actually, I couldn’t forget as I never knew about it until very recently.) Though I can’t participate, there’s some comfort in proximity to a revolution. Eyes may roll, but then, so too may heads.