Andrew took me to see Rickie Lee Jones at the Lilac Festival yesterday. It struck me how she just commanded the stage and conducted the other musicians to create this moving, lyrical poetry that flooded me with intense emotion.
I have to admit, I admire a good leader, especially a woman in a man’s world. Rickie made no bones about the fact that this was her show and her music and she wanted it to be performed in a very specific way. She wasn’t obnoxious about it, but she also made her commands to the other musicians quite clear, “I can’t hear you, Rob. Why are you holding back, Wyatt? Don’t stop yet!”
I like to run a tight ship, too. I’m happy with the business I have created and with our family’s traditions. But yesterday, I felt a tinge of sadness that I wasn’t a strong enough musician to be like Rickie. I guess we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Does every woman long to be the “Queen of her Castle” like I do?
I wonder if there would be any differences in our country if Hillary were elected instead of Obama? It saddens me that female leadership is still something that isn’t more commonplace. I was remarking to Andrew the other day about how segregated my life has become. I am constantly with other moms. There is a handful of men that I regularly talk to: Andrew, my house cleaner, and one or two men from Quaker meeting. When I taught at Brockport, I also worked only with women. I wonder if my experience of segregation is normal for women my age or not?
Rebecca
