inside-outside

Grateful for actually getting back home safely yet one more time, it's hard to relax and get all the chores done that need attention at the same time. Traffic was moderate to heavy on the interstates with quite a few more vehicles out there than I expected at 5:30 in the morning. Cumulus and Priscilla were their usual anxious selves as I opened the front door. They've kind of settled down at the moment, but Q (Cumulus' other nickname) still passes by every 5 to 10 minutes to be sure I'm aware he's around.
On to dishes and the kitchen!

The Mercury 13

Subtitled, "The untold story of thirteen American women and the dream of space flight" by Martha Ackmann. This was a quite interesting read and quite depressing at the same time. Many parts of the book chronicled the rampant sexism that existed in this country during the 50's and 60's, particularly when it came to the thought of women in the astronaut corp. The trouble is, it hasn't gone away. Diversity is a word still missing from the dictionary of most of those (read for the most part white and male) in power.
I guess this story hits close in several ways, two of which are: First, I vividly remember growing up in awe of the *men* of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. Women? Weren't they secretaries? (Permit me the statment recalling the early 60's) Second, my present association with the same "company" that so arbitrarily dismissed the abilities and capabilities of these women.
The book was worth it for the last two lines.

"As the roar of engines began and the space shuttle Columbia lifted off into the sky, she spread her hands across the grass. Jerrie Cobb wanted to feel the ground tremble."