Women of Vision and Courage!
It’s high time to be posting something…anything! Right?
I’ll start with news of a committee that I sit on. The President’s Commission on the Status of Women, or PCSW. This is a committee based out of my local University, and every year during National Women’s Week the PCSW selects from a pool of outstanding women from the community, faculty, staff, and students. This is my second year serving here and there is always alot of work to get things organized, but everything finally came to fruition the first week of March. Kathleen Dahl won for outstanding faculty and Sharon Mendoza won for outstanding citizen. Professor Dahl had quite a history of being the odd woman out and standing strong, so her success as this year’s awardee was deserved. But Ms. Mendoza was the underdog, and won my heart.
It snows where I live in the Winter. Well, let’s be real. It snows Fall, Winter and half of Spring to be modest. At the corner of our town square, every Friday early evening a small handful of people stand waving a blue flag with the words “peace” sewn in white. The thing is, on many of the blustery, freezing, evenings there is only one person standing waving her flag for peace. It is Ms. Mendoza.
That image, the one of her standing with her flag in some of the most frigid weather in Eastern Oregon, was the face of courage and bravery to me. And as I closed my eyes to contemplate on the cast of deserving nominees, Ms. Mendoza’s lone figure wouldn’t leave my thoughts and I placed my vote.
It’s tough to pick an awardee out of a pool of very deserving women, but we (the committee) did good.
Dawn
March 25th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Dawn,
YAY!! I’m happy you’re BACK and posting. I’ve kept up with your blog for a couple of years now, since seeing Wonderland and literally becoming entranced by your story, survival, strength, and amazing “story telling ability” (really you should have been a writer all along!) Your innocence then and strength now transcends that movie and this blog. I anxiously await your book and asking/seeing questions and answers from you here regarding it. My prayers are with you, your family, and Sharon always.
Tiffany
March 30th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Dawn,
I’m so glad to see your back. I love to read about the work you do. Wouldn’t it be great if all abused women came out of their situations with the mindset to change the world? Would you please write us a post on how Sharon is doing? I realize she is a private person and wants to put it all behind her, but there are people like me with genuine concern. Would you tell us if anything happen to her? I hope all is fine. Please keep writing, it really means alot to someone like me who’s been there and can’t seem to find the person I once was.
Hows Jade spring break going? I pray all is good for everyone.
thanx Marty
March 31st, 2009 at 8:04 am
Dawn,
I have just come upon your website and although I am saddened by what you and your loved ones have gone through in this life, I am so happy to see such courage and strength. I myself am finding it harder and harder to forgive myself for the life I used to lead. I feel as though I am walking around this earth wearing a mask and thinking, “I hope no one sees through to the worthless, terrible person that is really here.” I know from some therapy, support groups, books, etc. that this is not the way I should think; that I am not a terrible person, but nonetheless these are the thoughts that make their way into my mind. Maybe you can offer me some hope, some way to change my thinking and forgive myself.
I am so happy to see that your sweet little girl made it through her tragic accident! My thoughts and prayers are with you and Sharon. I am sending my love and blessings your way.
Roxanne