Holiday Cookie Exchange '24

 

A really fun morning with several ladies clubs coming together to exchange cookies and share the upcoming holidays.

As Trans People, We're Going To Face More Challenges

 Here Are 7 Ways To Get Support.

A second Trump presidency could mean devastating legislative and cultural setbacks for transgender people. Here's how to stay safe and supported.

By Fei Lu

Dec 10, 2024

As LGBTQ+ voters who’ve already lived through a Donald Trump presidency, we are fully aware of the first Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ+ standpoints, specifically those surrounding transgender rights. And for many transgender Americans, a second Trump presidency could mean devastating legislative and cultural setbacks, such as reversals of civil rights. These may include an executive order to reinstate a military ban on transgender service members, the targeting of antidiscrimination policies that protect transgender students, and the potential rejection of the still-pending Equality Act, which would ensure that sexual orientation and gender identity have the same civil protections as race, ethnicity and other protected characteristics.

In short, the next Trump presidency could further roll back civil liberties for transgender individuals living in the United States.

What’s equally unsettling about this is that in public life, many people who possess hostile views of LGBTQ+ individuals may feel emboldened to act on those attitudes. Being Chinese American and transgender, I’m painfully aware of how unsettling a Trump presidency was and can be.

To help mitigate these shared anxieties and uncertainties, I’ve compiled a list of ways that transgender individuals can find support from legal, health care and community resources. While we can’t predict the next four years, we can stay informed and equip ourselves with the information needed to protect ourselves and our communities.

Read the Seven suggestions...

#7 - Become your own best medical advocate.

Not all transgender individuals may undergo medical transition, but for those who desire to do so, knowing where to start can be difficult. And with the next U.S. administration’s hostility toward transgender individuals already apparent, it may be difficult to access relevant health resources. Organizations like New York City’s Callen-Lorde offer breakdowns of various medical procedures that transgender patients may want to educate themselves on, which could be critical in better pinpointing gender-affirming medical practitioners.

Tennessee law banning gender-affirming Care

Conservatives appear skeptical of challenge banning gender-affirming care for minors

By Josh Gerstein and Daniel Payne

12/04/2024

Transgender-rights advocates seeking to overturn a Tennessee law banning some gender-affirming care for minors got a chilly reception from the Supreme Court’s conservatives on Wednesday. But the silence of one justice in particular may have offered them a glimmer of hope.

Most of the court’s conservatives seemed inclined to leave in place a lower court ruling that allowed the state’s ban on hormone treatments and puberty blockers to remain in place, but the normally voluble Justice Neil Gorsuch asked no questions and offered no public comments during the two-and-a-half hour session.

Gorsuch’s decision to remain mute was particularly notable because he was the author of a surprise 6-3 decision four years ago that found employment discrimination against transgender people illegal under a longstanding federal law banning sex discrimination.

Opponents of the Tennessee law framed their arguments around Gorsuch’s 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, contending that denying certain medicines to adolescents based on their sex amounted to discrimination and required strong justification from state officials.

It was unclear why Gorsuch, an appointee of President Donald Trump, chose not to engage Wednesday. With the court’s three liberals all appearing to support the plaintiffs challenging the Tennessee law, Gorsuch’s vote alone would not be enough to form a majority to require closer legal scrutiny for the ban. One more would be needed.

The outcome of the case is being closely watched by people on both sides of the issue because 26 states have passed laws in recent years that restrict gender-affirming care. Many of those laws have faced challenges in court, and the Supreme Court’s decision in the Tennessee case could have implications for the future of the laws in other states.

...

In the U.S, more restrictions — and challenges — could be ahead. The incoming Trump administration has promised to reverse measures meant to increase access to gender-affirming care and promote inclusion of transgender people. But several justices also acknowledged that even after this case, a parent might bring a case before the court challenging a ban on care for their child.

Feminine Differential - Feet

 

Men's feet vs Women's feet, what's the difference?

Ermonn Women's Heeled Sandals Velcro

My Note: Just this past week I saw on Amazon a strappy Sandal that works better on my foot than any heeled shoe ever. I have two problems that make both men's shoes and women shoes problematic.  My natural foot tilt at rest is angled as in a female foot which make any shoe with a higher heel (back lift) more comfortable than a flat shoe.  Most of the time when working at my desk, I have a shoe with a heel. A higher heel best accommodated my at rest foot thus providing less foot  and leg fatigue.  

I have a high instep that makes any female shoes that has a strap that crosses the center foot, nearly impossible to get on and unconformable over time. Boots are the worst. These two issues are counter intuitive in that the higher the heel the more elevated the the instep.  As much as I love high heels, finding the  Goldilocks, "comfort vs fashion", shoe has always been difficult.         

The shoe purchased has a 3 1/3" heel, and is adjustable (Velcro) cross mid strap and toe. Very comfortable. Here is the Amazon description: "Ermonn Womens Two Strap Heeled Sandals Velcro Slip On Square Open Toe Stiletto" 

These are not ball-gown Stiletto pumps. However,  are a prefect jeans, shorts, or casual skirt shoe. Both the lower strap and upper (across instep) are adjustable.   

Here is a more scientific discussion on the Feminine Differential of male vs female feet /shoes.

_________________

In the ol' days, work shoes (then work sneakers) were designed by men, for men's use. Later, when women started needing robust shoes for work, smaller "female" sizes were made - but the shoe designs remained based on a men's foot mould. It stemmed from the belief that our feet were just smaller versions of men’s feet.

Modern science has since called BS on that, but fake foot news still exists. Most women are unaware of how history has left us wearing ill-fitting shoes designed for men, so the shoe industry has been slow to change. The hard truth is women’s feet are anatomically different to a man’s - that's just science. And wearing a men’s fit is not good for our feet, legs or lower back.

Reading scientific stuff is not for everyone, so here's the low-down. Basically  researchers normalised foot length measurements so they could compare the genders. Then they discovered:

• female feet and legs are not just scaled down versions of a man's
• there are 11 significant differences in women's lower limbs compared with male anatomy; 2 calf, 5 ankle and 4 foot shape variables 
• women's wider hips create a significantly different pressure load under the foot

Although this article deals mostly with work shoes it highlights the differential well. 

Read more here

____________________

Do not be discouraged in your search for elegant feminine shoes.  There are so many varsities; size, heel height and designs... Finding just the right shoe can be daunting.  However, isn't the sopping and selection part of the fun too. Good luck!   

"High Heels are pleasure with pain" Christian Louboutin

Political Cartoons 12-8-2024

 

Never Stop...

 

Why Not 3

 

The Lesson Of The 2024 Election

 Why Trump Won | Robert Reich

I Love A success Story - Alex Consani becomes...

First transgender Model of the Year at U.K. Fashion Awards

 Alex Consani

Dec. 3, 2024, 12:47 PM EST

By Matt Lavietes

American model Alex Consani was named Model of the Year at the British Fashion Council’s Fashion Awards on Monday night, becoming the first openly transgender person to win the esteemed accolade.

Accepting the honor at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the 21-year-old used the opportunity to address the who’s who of the fashion industry about the groundbreaking nature of her win.

“I’m the first trans woman to win this award!” she exclaimed to the audience. “But I can’t accept this award without thanking those who came before me, specifically the Black trans women who really fought for the space I’m in today.” Consani said Dominique Jackson, Connie Fleming and Aaron Rose Philip were among those “who fought for the space that allowed me to flourish.”

Consani then thanked her parents before concluding: “Change is more than possible; it’s needed.”

She joined a long list of some of the modeling world’s biggest names to earn the annual award, including Kate Moss, Bella Hadid and Cara Delevingne.

Consani is no stranger to making history.

She is thought to be the youngest openly trans model to sign with a major modeling agency, having signed with IMG Models in 2019 at just 15 years old. And in October, she became one of the first openly trans models to walk in the iconic Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, along with Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio.

Men That Skipped the Pants...

And Opted For a Skirt or Dress on the Red Carpet

After starring in Pose and having a higher profile, Porter decided to defy fashion norms at the 2019 Oscars, where men tend to dress conservatively. He showed up in a tuxedo gown that stole the show. “My goal is to be a walking piece of political art every time I show up,” he told Vogue. “To challenge expectations. What is masculinity? What does that mean? Women show up every day in pants, but the minute a man wears a dress, the seas part.”

He’s not the only one pushing the envelope because Jared Leto and even Pete Davidson are feeling the freedom and confidence to express themselves through their wardrobe. It’s a reminder that wardrobe doesn’t have to be drawn down gender lines — it’s a work of art that some men are choosing to display with self-assuredness.

See all the men who have worn dress and skirts on the red carpet

Musical Interlude - I Am Woman

 

Wikipedia: "I Am Woman" is a song written by Australian musicians Helen Reddy and Ray Burton. Performed by Reddy, the first recording of "I Am Woman" appeared on her debut album I Don't Know How to Love Him, released in May 1971, and was heard during the closing credits for the 1972 film Stand Up and Be Counted. A new recording of the song was released as a single in May 1972 and became a number-one hit later that year, eventually selling over one million copies. The song came near the apex of the counterculture era and, by celebrating female empowerment, became an enduring feminist anthem for the women's liberation movement. Following Reddy's death in September 2020, the song peaked at number 2 on the Australian digital sales chart.

To Reddy, the song's message reaches beyond feminism. "It's not just for women," she said. "It's a general empowerment song about feeling good about yourself, believing in yourself. When my former brother-in-law, a doctor, was going to medical school he played it every morning just to get him going." In 2002, however, she said, "I had no idea what the song was destined to become. If I'd known, I would have been far too intimidated to have written it."[3]

Political Cartoons 12-1-2024

 

Good Shoes

 

Sarah McBride Speaks Truth

McBride has accused Republicans of trying to distract “from what they’re actually doing,” saying the party is trying to scapegoat trans people while going after other policies.

Sarah is the voice Delaware needs in Congress

“Every single time we hear them say the word ‘trans,’ look what they’re doing with their right hand,” McBride told CBS News on Sunday. “Look at what they’re doing to pick the pocket of American workers, to fleece seniors by privatizing Social Security and Medicare.”

Happy Thanksgiving 2024

 

We all have so much to be thankful!

New Bike - Fantasy vs Reality

 

Irrational Decisions

 The 5 Basic LAWS of Human STUPIDITY | Carlo M. Cipolla

In this video, we explore the fascinating concept of human behavior through Carlo M. Cipolla's "The 5 Basic Laws of Human Stupidity." From understanding the different types of stupidity to analyzing Cipolla's groundbreaking theory on the relationship between stupidity and intelligence, this video covers everything you need to know about human stupidity. We delve into Cipolla's five laws of stupidity, shedding light on how these laws impact society and individual actions. Whether you're curious about the basic laws of human stupidity or want to learn about Cipolla's insights into the subject, this video will provide you with a comprehensive understanding.

My Note: This is not meant as a social comment on the current political environment or what happen in election 2024. There is plenty of of Monday morning quarterbacking going on there; "The Democratic Party should have...".

This is only a good insight into how some individuals make decisions; even when the decision is not in their own best interest.  

Have you ever wondered...

What it would be like to wear dresses for an entire week? It may be common for some people, but for Jonny, Zach, and Jared it’s a whole new world!

Political Cartoon 11-24-2024

 

No Matter How You Feel...

 

This Princess...

 

Some absolute beautiful Art - David Uhl: Motorcycle Art

Harley-Davidson® Women's Abbey 5.5-Inch Fashion Hi-Heel Boots
Harley-Davidson

My note:  Yes, I own these and will wear them. More likely to Motorcycle events where I do not ride in. Although, I will give them a try on a short ride. Not practical for an actual ride. However, they do look great with my boot-cut jeans. 

Note: A post from a few months back.      

Billionaire Own's Senate - President-elect Consolidates Power

 

A senate source says that Elon Musk is threatening to fund a primary challenge to anyone who doesn’t fall in line. 

The president-elect, with visions of being a dictator, is removing any / all  obstacles, current and future. Consolidating his absolute power. With a billionaire (richest man in the world) at his side, he is looking to intimidate anyone that might oppose him. This is only the beginning. 

The Hill: Republican senators are feeling mounting pressure to get in line and support Trump’s nominees; colleagues warn they could face primary challengers if they buck the president-elect.

Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely”

Is a quote attributed to 19th century British historian Lord Acton.

Mean - Double Down

Mike Johnson Calls Extra Press Conference Just To Make Anti-Trans Statement

The House Speaker previously ducked a question about whether Sarah McBride, soon to be the first transgender member of Congress, is a man or a woman.

By Arthur Delaney

Nov 19, 2024, 07:39 PM EST

HuffPost: WASHINGTON ― House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) summoned reporters on Tuesday afternoon just to make sure they’re clear that he’s against transgender rights.

Earlier on in the day Johnson had ducked a question at a press conference about whether Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, a Delaware Democrat who will be the first transgender member of Congress, is a man or a woman.

Johnson apparently got enough backlash from right-wingers that his office assembled reporters so he could make another statement.

“I want to make a statement and be very clear,” Johnson said during his brief second press gaggle in the Capitol. “I was asked a question and I rejected the premise because the answer is so obvious. For anybody who doesn’t know my well-established record on this issue let me be unequivocally clear: A man is a man and a woman is a woman, and a man cannot become a woman.”

Anti-trans sentiment is running high among Republicans on Capitol Hill thanks in part to Donald Trump’s successful presidential campaign, which spent millions on TV ads accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of being for “they/them.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Tuesday even reportedly said in a closed-door meeting she would “fight” any trans woman who tried to use the women’s restroom near the House floor, in what was likely a reference to McBride.

...

Johnson also said Monday that the chamber would “accommodate the needs of every single person,” presumably including McBride, though he didn’t offer any details.

At his second press appearance, Johnson repeated the line about dignity, again without saying whether the House would attempt to bar certain lawmakers from certain toilets.

______________

My Note: What has happened to simple respect, tolerance and decency? People are different. Not everyone is skinny. Not everyone likes the same kind of music. On any street, any mall you will see different dress, different colors, tattoos, even handicaps. Why single out anyone as evil, or less deserving, simply because they want to be accepted.

What has happened?   

 

Mean

Republican introduces anti-transgender bathroom resolution at Capitol after first transgender woman elected to Congress

Sarah McBride 

Published 10:28 PM EST, Mon November 18, 2024

 CNN:  A House Republican is pushing to ban transgender women from women’s restrooms at the US Capitol, two weeks after history was made with the election of America’s first out transgender person to Congress.

South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace on Monday introduced a resolution to amend the rules of the US House of Representatives less than two months before Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, a Delaware state senator, is sworn-in in January.

“Sarah McBride doesn’t get a say. I mean, this is a biological man,” the South Carolina Republican told reporters on Monday, adding that the lawmaker “does not belong in women’s spaces, women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, period, full stop.”

Later Monday, McBride wrote in an apparent response on X that"

 “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully, I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness.”

We Need to Talk About The Twist in Conclave

Who could have guessed the year’s hottest movie ticket would be a papal election drama?

Ralph Fiennes

For those not Catholic or not religious a papal conclave is a secretive gathering of cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church to elect a new pope.

What it is:

The cardinals are locked in seclusion in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican until a new pope is chosen. The term "conclave" comes from the Latin cum clave, which means "with a key". The cardinals cast ballots in a rectangular form, writing the name of their choice in a way that doesn't identify them. The ballots are then burned, and the smoke rising from the fire indicates when a new pope has been chosen. 

The movie: After the Pope unexpectedly dies of cardiac failure, it falls to Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence (Fiennes) to run a papal conclave in which the College of Cardinals meets in secret to select a new pontiff. And much like an American presidential election, the Cardinals have an array of completely imperfect options to choose from: There is Nigerian Cardinal Joshua Adeyemi who, much like Dennis Duffy in 30 Rock, is a “social conservative, fiscal liberal.” Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow) is another conservative alternative, but rumors fly that his final meeting with the late Pope was heated. Traditionalist Cardinal Goffredo Tedesco wants to force everyone to do the liturgy in Latin and, more troublingly, is flagrantly racist and Islamophobe.

I will not give away the twist of an ending.  Not since "The Crying Game" (1992) has there been such a twist.

The ending line: "I am the man that God intended me to be". We can relate. 

However, how you get to this point in the movie is about all the big ornate details and flourishes of drama. From the wax seal on the sash sealing the dead Pope’s door to the canisters of smoke opened at the end of a hard day of voting you will enjoy the story and ending.   

  

Girls Should Be...

 

My Epilogue ...

My Epilogue: I want to thank all that commented. There were a few comments (10, most ever) and all were positive and well taken. However, the scant numbers did confirmed my market penetration and reader apathy. 

I am going to continue with my "Public Transgender Life" - resolute. Visibility and defiance are our best defenses against bullies. I am also going to continue to be a public advocate for our community. It has taken me 76+ years to get to this place.

 GO BACK - HELL NO!  

There are a few post I have in my que that are non-political that you may find interesting. Rather than let those go un-posted, you will see a few more post over the next few weeks. I want to close out the blog with 8 million views, and I am close. 

I will not shut down the blog. It will remain as a legacy effort and may be useful for new transgender individuals doing research. 

To Be or Not To Be...

♪It is [not] Alright Now♪

By: Rhonda Williams 11/6/2024

We baby boomers have failed the nation. Whether it be greed, racism or _____ (you fill in your reason), we did not stop the hate that Trump propagated. Don’t think he was unstoppable; he was!  Our generation stopped an unjust war.  

My only hope is that the ensuing damage will not be so irreparable that the next generations will be able to salvage the republic. We are all aware of Benjamin Franklin's quote “...if you choose to keep it”.  Tuesday many choose not to keep it.   

Voted in: The first, felon President. The first President that orchestrated an insurrection against the constitution. The first President that so disrespected women that he was convicted of being accountable for sexual abuse. The first President convicted of falsifying business records (34 felony counts) for making hush money payment to porn star. The first President that shared classified military document with civilians after leaving office. And, more.

My blog has been about being authentic and living a life free of fear. Our paranoia now has a name and a champion. He has the ability to choose and place official that can make our lives difficult, if not impossible.  

Did my Blog make a difference? Not likely. Few and none ever commented on anything political / relevant I wrote; feedback seldom occurred even when I ask. I accepted that early on. However, blogs cannot exist in a vacuum.

Nine years - 3,500+ post and nearly 8,000,000 views. And, I am not sure I have made a difference.

Do I continue to just post photos of shoes and cute outfits and leave out the warning about challenges to our ability to wear the, “shoes or cute outfits”?  

I am going to take some time off to consider what is next…

Like Rick Nelson said:

"If you gotta play at garden parties 

I wish you a lotta luck

But if memories were all I sang

I'd rather drive a truck."

Garden Party by Ricky Nelson 1972 Official 

The Only Good News - Sarah McBride

Democrat Sarah McBride becomes first openly transgender member of US Congress

Sarah McBride

Reuters WASHINGTON, Nov 5 - Democrat Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Edison Research projected on Tuesday, winning election to Delaware's at-large seat.

McBride, a 34-year-old state senator, won a competitive primary for Delaware's at-large congressional district, considered safely Democratic, in September.

She became the first openly transgender person to serve as a state senator when she was elected in 2020, first to speak at a U.S. national political party convention in 2016, and first to intern at the White House in 2012, under Democratic former President Barack Obama.

In an interview with Reuters ahead of her election, McBride sought to focus instead on the issues she would prioritize, rather than the history-making nature of her candidacy.

"Whenever you are first, you often have to try to be the best version that you can," she said, acknowledging that comes with "added responsibilities."

"But none of them matter if I don't fulfill the responsibility of just being the best member of Congress that I can be for Delaware," she said.

When Will You Look?

 

Vote Like '24

Really...

The New Republic: Trump Unleashing RFK Jr. on Public Health Would Be a Disaster - Kennedy, an anti-vaxxer with a chilling past, says Trump has promised to name him head of Health and Human Services. The Trump camp has denied this—unconvincingly.

 In his own speech at Madison Square Garden, Kennedy took aim at Democrats, saying they were once “the party that wanted to protect public health, and women’s sports”—a bizarre pairing that highlights his recent pivot to attacking trans athletes and gender-affirming care.

Political Cartoons 11-3-2024

 

I Am Trans

 

Will the perfect men’s dress ever exist...

 And would men wear it?

Fritz Holznagel
Published: November 4, 2021 

Troye Sivan at the Met Gala.
Justin Lane/EPA

More famous men are wearing dresses: from actor Billy Porter on the red carpet to singer-songwriter Harry Styles on the cover of Vogue. They have prompted much commentary, both positive and negative, leading fashion commentators to ask if frocks might become a regular part of men’s sartorial landscape.

At this year’s Met Gala, racing car driver Lewis Hamilton wore a white lace dress over a black suit and singer Troye Sivan wore a simple black gown. More recently, rapper Lil Nas X wore a purple suit with a matching train to the MTV Video Music Awards and a Cinderella-style gown at an earlier award ceremony.

The trend signifies a return to ancient sartorial norms, when more androgynous clothing was accepted and, indeed, required.

Such clothes were not “dresses” as we understand them today: the dress is a garment that has become indelibly “feminine”. But could skirts and dresses become mainstream garb for 21st century men beyond these celebrity trailblazers?

Our contemporary construct of masculinity is, of course, relatively recent. Until the early 20th century, boys and girls wore dresses until boys were “breeched” (put into breeches or “short trousers”) at around seven years old.

Rapper Lil Nas X
in a Cinderella-style, toile-inspired
gown designed by Andrea Grossi.

Pink was a manly colour, and it was almost impossible to tell boy and girl toddlers apart.

Repression of expression

Women fought for a long time to wear trousers, making discreet strides in the adoption of bloomers as underwear in the 19th century. While gradually accepted as trouser-wearers in the early 20th century (and in the professional realm from the late 1960s), the same freedom of clothing choice has not been given to men.

For women, wearing trousers represented physical freedom, making certain jobs – and therefore, financial freedom – easier. Men do not have that same need, in a practical sense, to adopt dresses.

Arguably, a dress does not make any aspect of life easier, but it does allow an individual to express themselves in different ways. Restricting this suggests repression of far more than physical movement.

It could be argued that since the 18th century, (in the west at least), men have played second fiddle to women in terms of glamour and excitement in clothing. Contrary to popular belief, it was generally women who imposed what we now see as extravagant and restrictive sartorial customs, such as the cage crinoline. For many women, fashion was the one area of life over which they had some control.

Fitting dresses to men

If dresses are to become a genuine part of menswear once again, we need first to establish what differences, if any, there will be with women’s. How will the fit be determined? How will they be worn?

This is not necessarily the same as producing androgynous or gender fluid clothes. It is about dresses that will allow men, who wish it, to still feel masculine – as trousers can make women feel feminine.

While fashion slacks were often made to conform to a woman’s body (putting aside utilitarian and wartime uniforms) there seem to be very few dresses made exclusively for the male physique.

Billy Porter 2020 Oscars

Billy Porter’s velvet tuxedo gown worn to the 2019 Oscars was an exception. A hybrid male and female garment, it used black to create a link to contemporary womenswear, and men’s traditional evening wear. Crafted by designer Christian Siriano, it consisted of a tuxedo-style bodice with voluminous, ballgown skirt.

Dresses are likely to remain a novelty for many men, a defiant show of bravery and individuality akin to the female pioneers of the rational and aesthetic dress movements of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Happy Halloween '24

AKA - Be Something Else Day 

 

Don't forget to "ESCAPE" and use the opportunity to show the world who you are.  Remember it is not a costume, but your reality.  

A good day to explain that unchangeable fact to those you work with, have coffee with and love. Introduce to the world your true self.  

For those interested, here is my National Be Something Else Day - 2022  This is my Halloween story.  Halloween is a sacred day for us to "ESCAPE"! .  

You Only live once. 

The Bridges of Madison County

Why is this book / movie relevant to us? 

The Movie: Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep) meets a traveling National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood), who has arrived in Madison County, Iowa to shoot its picturesque covered bridges. The two begin a four-day affair while her husband and children are out of town that reawakens long-lost passions and yearnings in Francesca. Kincaid confronts his own roving, rootless nature; he asks her to come [escape] with him.

Robert and Francesca never meet again. After her husband's death, Francesca attempted to contact Robert, but his whereabouts by then were unknown as he no longer worked for the National Geographic. Three years later, an attorney sends Francesca a package containing Robert’s belongings, including his cameras, his published photo book, and a letter. Robert has died and his ashes were scattered at the (Madison County) Roseman Bridge. 

Robert and Francesca story is told through flashbacks. Her children learn about the affair from a journal she has left them after Francesca passes away.  She requests to be cremated and her ashes be scattered at the Roseman Bridge. Her children are initially shocked by her story and request. They finally respect the love their mother had for Robert and agree to publish the love story.

__________________

1998 - Myself inside one of
the Bridges of Madison County,
on a snowy afternoon

So why is the story relevant to us? 

Many of us have secrets that our family's will discover.  Maybe a not well hidden photo, a magazine, a box of cloths, a browser history of reading "Rhonda's Escape". Some may get to plan ahead (I helped one friend dying of cancer). However, more than likely something unexpected will happen.

As with Francesca's journal, the surviving family is thrush into realizing their mother had a secret. In the movie and book, not all of the children reacted kindly.  

Do you want your children to see you as a fraud or a person who kept secrets?  A person they did not know? Imagination can run amuck in the shadow of grief. Or would it not be better to be honest now with the option of explaining.  

If you are not religious, your everlasting life is how you are remembered. How do you want to be remembered?

Amazon - The Bridges of Madison County
 by Robert James Waller (1992-05-03) Hardcover