PSA Tuesday - Older Women and Blog Blast for Education

Speaking of movies, a couple of days ago NYC/Caribbean Ragazza regaled us with this superb post. This post was typical of several reviews I saw that day concerning the opening of the Sex and the City movie. NYC said it in her usual inimitable style, and she also has the background to really cover this (as a producer), and I seriously, seriously recommend that you all go over there and read this now. Her main point, however, was that Hollywood execs feel that women won't "open" movies. Especially older women - older women actresses or older women viewers.

But despite this, SATC beat out my old friend Indy for total sales during its opening weekend. Open that male execs!

Soccer Mom in Denial had a different post, on the subject of women's bodies that have been, well, lived in. Or maybe I should phrase it as well-lived in.

She was horrified, as am I, by a new children's book, called My Beautiful Mommy, that prepares young children for what to expect if Mommy comes back from the hospital with a new nose, or a new set of... well, you know.

Nice. Just the thing I'd want my child to read, because, you know, I think all young children should expect their mommies to get new body parts when the old ones look a little less shiny.



And then there's two of my Hollywood heroines, one old and one new. The first is Jamie Lee Curtis. Jamie Lee posed for MORE magazine in nothing but underwear. Not sexy underwear, just plain underwear, with no make-up, no airbrushing, no stylist for her hair, etc. She wanted us to know what late 40s/early 50s movie stars look like. For real. And for lack of a better, gender-appropriate expression, the Lady's got balls.

Karen Allen is my new heroine (and, apparently, the current cover for MORE ). I guess I have to include Steven Spielberg, too, but he's been a longstanding hero for other reasons. Karen Allen is up on the big, harsh, show-every-pore, movie screen with a face that shows her age. She is radiant, yes. I mean, she is Karen Allen, after all. She's still cute, she's still freckled, she still exudes health and energy.

And wrinkles.

And a post-menopausal paunch.

Just as nature intended.

How much healthier would our culture be if we saw the beauty in women as they are meant to be - in all their permutations, ages, skin tones and colors and body sizes? In the meantime, however, viva those brave actresses who act, and look, their age.

Now, speaking of heroines, I'd like introduce you to April, of It's All About Balance, for those who don't already know her. If you don't know her, and if you parent, or are creative, or if you run into adversity in your own life, ever, go - go now, and read her.

April is a single mom, with two beautiful, happy girls, who lives in LA. She's smart (she was just promoted to a position she's not credentialed for, because yes, she's that good), she's creative (actress and graduate of various prestigious arts programs), and a completely passionate, devoted mom and advocate for her daughters. April does not have the support of her daughters' father, and she is on her own. She's had many setbacks, but somehow she keeps it together in a totally inspiring manner.

One of the lights in her life has been her older daughter's experience with a KIPP school. KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Schools are free, open enrollment, college preparatory public schools designed to serve underserved students for future success in the academic world and in life. Sadly, though, there appears to be trouble on the horizon for her daughter's particular school.

As April was analyzing this situation in her usual thoughtful way, and attending meeting after meeting to try to ameliorate the situation (yeah, in all her spare time), she came up with a wonderful idea: A Blog Blast for Education on June 20th. You can read all about it here.

Cable Girl has designed not one, but two, gorgeous buttons to choose from. The one I'm proudly hanging to the right of this post is this one:



Here's what April has to say about the event:

"Education is an issue that affects every Mommy Bloggers' lives (and the Daddies, too).

We've been hearing lately how much power we have, let's utilize it. (Not to mention, it's an Election Year and I haven't heard nearly enough about education.)

Let's talk about whatever concerns us most. Let's talk about a brilliant teacher or curriculum. Let's talk about homework. What's the first thing you think about when you hear the word "education?" Let's talk about that.

And, okay, we may not get the ears (eyes) of McCain or Obama/Clinton from this, but we can learn from each other, right?"

I know that is one day I'll be cranking up my Google reader with great alacrity. I'm excited to learn about the pressing concerns and joys of others, and I'm eager to write about my own.

So, hell yeah, I'm going to be there on June 20th.

How about you?