I was delighted to have very few have to-s this weekend and a bunch of get to-s. On Saturday morning, I stopped at the newly opened bakery owned by my friend Veronica called Sweet Victory. It used to be ensconced in a tiny space on the corner near my home and is now in a larger facility so that she doesn’t need to cook squished in between a counter and oven. Her specialty is gluten free, dairy free goodies. I picked up some treats for my next door neighbors and for myself. A pumpkin spice donut and blueberry scone didn’t last very long once I brought them home. One was dessert last night and one breakfast this morning. It has been a fixture in the community for years. Now, if she could only make the delicacies calorie free and fat free, people would be lined up around the corner. I wanted to be sure to visit for her Grand Opening and was taken on a tour of the room where the magic happens. The kitchen was so spacious that she could have danced in it while baking. Propped up against one of the walls was a cardboard cut out of Wonder Woman.
Of course, I asked if we could take a picture with her. I forgot to strike the same power pose when standing next to this icon of confidence, protection, and peace.
Later in the day, I supported another local business called The Snarky Teahouse. This Alice in Wonderland themed venue sells loose teas and hosts high tea service which includes those beverages and a mini tower with finger sandwiches and itsy bitsy pastries. My cousin Jody, and our dear friend Yvonne indulged with me as we laughed uproariously, nibbled and sipped. Yvonne is a Brit through and through, born in London and emigrated here in the 60s, so she knows good tea.
Today, I went to the gym and while I was working out on the rowing machine, I saw a young woman wearing a tank top embellished with Wonder Woman whose arm was raised in anger and determination and the words, “Respect my existence or expect my resistance.” It resonated with me as something that could be worn at a protest to reflect the way that many feel lately. Immigrants, those in the LGBTQ+ community, PoC, women, those with disabilities, those whose religion is not predominant in this country, could fit into that category. I struck up a conversation with her and asked about the shirt. She said her father had gotten it for her because she identifies with Wonder Woman and the message reflects how she sees the world. I told her that I appreciated meeting a kindred spirit there.
There was a time when I eschewed the Wonder Woman image since I used it to overwork, overthink, overdo. Prior to the heart attack in 2014, I thought I had to model myself after her. Post heart attack, I eased back my activity knowing that I didn’t have to be ‘on’ all the time. Then in 2017, I saw the Hollywood version of the icon played by Gal Godot. I wrote this piece about it called Wondering About Wonder Woman.
She was a woman who knew her own mind, who answered to no man, who was raised to be strong and resilient, with a solid social conscience. I acknowledged those qualities in myself and began to embrace the ethos if not the effort involved to emulate her.
Today, I celebrate the energy behind the image and take a powerful stance when it comes to facing challenges and seemingly overwhelming odds.
Some inspiring Wonder Woman quotes to empower you.
“Peace is a virtue. A state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, and justice. It is not simply the absence of war.”
“I’m willing to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.”
“It’s about what you believe. And I believe in love. Only love will truly save the world.”
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Mike2478 on Wikimedia under CC License
