Why a flamingo? And why the name Flamingo Feminista?
Lots of reasons.
Let’s first describe a feminist. A feminist, plain and simple, is a person that believes that men and women are equal.
Some of you reading this may think of a feminist as a stocky woman, a lesbian. One whose legs are unshaven. She wears no makeup but does wear combat boots. And you would be right. Many of us look like that. And powerful they are.
There are feminists that dress stylishly, have manicures and fashionably colored hair. Many feminists are men with tattoos and body piercings. Many feminists are men in shirts and ties. One famous feminist is Michelle Obama. Oh, and so is her husband!
Back to flamingos.
A long time ago, sometime in 1982, my sweet,new husband and kids were watching a documentary on PBS about flamingos. There was a hilarious clip of them running to and fro and looking like a scene from the Marx Brothers. We chuckled, the kids started giggling like crazy. It was our reference to the Marx Brothers that set them off. My son ran into the bedroom and came out sporting some Groucho Marx glasses. You know the kind with the big nose and fake mustache. He was giggling so hard he could not carry off the Groucho stance. My Beloved donned the glasses and paced around the room honking like he thought a flamingo should sound! It was fun.
Then came birthday time for their Dad. I found a card with a picture of a flock of flamingos all wearing Groucho glasses! It was perfect! And that card was recycled many a year.
We began a new life in Mexico in 2000. The first of the three homes that we owned there came complete with some plastic flamingo lawn ornaments! I had always equated plastic flamingo lawn ornaments with a vacation home in Florida. The real pink bird I loved, the flat plastic fakes, not so much.
In 2001 we went to France over Christmas. As we drove along a beach road we saw a distant pink line. As we grew closer we realized that we were in a salt marsh and were surrounded by gorgeous, pink flamingos. It was a cold gray day. The water was gray. The flamingos shone and glowed in the odd light. One of those little Perfect 10 moments that you remember years later.
After my husband died in July of 2018, I was set adrift. Lost in an indescribable loneliness. I was wandering downtown looking in shop windows. Hanging high up in my favorite store was a lovely white linen blouse embroidered with gorgeous, stately flamingos. I bought it! A first step in a new direction.
Shopping online for some pretty cotton fabric to make new pajamas, my eye was drawn to a soft blue Pima cotton print. The print? Yep, flamingos. Pretty flamingos in their classic one legged stance. I have not yet cut into that fabric.
And now here I am in Florida!
Connecting the dots, I am a feminist. I love flamingos. I have a new blog.
I have a lot to say about a lot of stuff. I hope that you will follow me through my new life journey.
Peace and Love,
Susan
That was a lovely with some sweet memories.
I think you should adopt ‘Pretty flamingo’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFAhXvX0fHM – as your theme song.
Thank you for being my first visitor! That is certainly an interesting song by Manfred Man not their usual stuff. at least from what I remember.
Hi Susan. Lily from quilting here and ready to enjoy following you along on this new journey. Love the flamingo to and fro!
Dear Lily,
Thank you for stopping. I am also working on my sewing blog! I will send you that link as well.
A strong women struts like a beautiful flamingo, so girl just keep strutting!!
Dan,
I do have a little issue with the standing on one leg though!
Congratulations Susan!
We will have many more interesting conversations and insights. I am so happy you have found a lovely spot in Florida. As this pandemic fades away, we will find even more strength as we go forward.
All best wishes and much love,
Melissa
Melissa,
Yes I hope to talk with you more. And perhaps we shall meet, at your home in Hawaii!
We have a connection whose price is way too high.
We will be stronger yes, and have a new life perspective.
Susan,
This is absolutely beautiful! I miss Ira’s sense of humor, as you describe here. I can just see him in those glasses!
I think your flamingo blog will be perfect! I look forward to seeing more!
Love you!
Melanie
Melanie,
And Ira always claimed that he had no sense of humor!
It will be interesting to see where this blog takes me.
And thank you for visiting and commenting.
Well. Congratulations Susan. Thanks for letting me know about Flamingo Feminesta. Your new life as a single senior may change as will your new role as a blogger. Growth and development is a rich tradition among we humans. It is challenging to address life and a good reason to get out of bed. I look forward to your blogging, a life examined. It is a challenge to live in a state where the governor has his head up Trump’s lower intestine. It is challenging sometimes to remember our past. It can be challenging to project who we are in this moment toward what happens next. I love your description of French Flamingos piercing the surrounding grey water in odd light. For some people it is a challenge to observe carefully. You do it well. So go get-em kid. Pursue language, observation, consciousness.
Here is a little clearer version of The Manford’s “Pretty Flamingo”.
https://youtu.be/TOSu6K72_7M
I appreciate the spirit in which Victoria presented it. And, maybe it is time to revisit the John Waters film “Pink Flamingos”, in which an exploration of 1970’s American culture persists as an exercise in poor taste. John Waters is certainly a feminist. I look forward to your next installments.
Walter,
As usual a thoughtful and interesting message from you.
I will take a look at the links that you sent. Pink Flamingos may have an inspiring moment or two for me!