Volume 25, Number 2 • March & April 2010 • A publication of the Women’s Community Center of San Luis Obispo

County • Cover: “Acquiescence” by Patti Robbins

2 Women’s Press Women’s Press March & April 2010

Courtney’s Quill Cover Artist Patti Robbins

It’s hard to believe that Spring is here and
2010 is already a fourth of the way over. In
my immediate family, this season is what we
affectionately call the birthday sweep. From
March-June we have 9 birthdays, rang-
ing from celebrating those turning two to
those in their fifties. I myself have a birth-
day in March, and while I love to celebrate
with cake, this year I have decided to make a
resolution (I find resolutions are better made
on birthdays, not the 1st of the year) and call
this year “My Year of Thanks,” in which I
will attempt to be fully thankful and appre-
ciative for all I have now and to all those
who have helped me get here. I’ve committed
to journaling every day (every day!) about
what I am thankful for and how I went
about showing my thankfulness.
One of the things I am most thankful
is my time at Women’s Press. I’m not going
to lie, though, it can be difficult to manage
a voluntary newspaper while taking care of
two children and working full time. There
are times I have just thrown my arms in
the air convinced I’ll never finish editing by
deadline. But then—always—everything
gets finished, the paper comes out, and I
hear from women who have been touched by
an article. I feel rewarded and refreshed. But
I still need help.
If you have any free time and are won-
dering about the perks of volunteering, come
my way! We desperately need some folks to
distribute our paper in North County as
well as someone to coordinate and run our
monthly workshops. Neither of these jobs
require more than 1 hour a week of help.
Please email me at womenspress.slo@gmail.com
for more information.
And enjoy this issue of Women’s Press. We
had another amazing outpouring of articles
from women in the community: Jen Kaplan
writes a great article on Attached Parent-
ing Sleep Principles (pg. 10); Jeanne “Bean”
Murdock writes about how she went about
publishing a book (pg. 15); Kate Updike
O’Connor writes about the relationship
with her mother and her piano (pg. 14); Ash-
ley Howard writes about how her life has
changed from 2009 to 2010 (pg. 13); and
finally, our “Voices Around the Table” ques-
tion received quite a response (pg. 16)!
All in all, another successful Women’s
Press for you to read, enjoy, and learn from.
Best wishes this spring season, and I do hope
to hear from you.
Courtney Brogno
A native New Yorker, Patti has a BA from
American University and an MA from Johns
Hopkins University. She pursued her artistic
studies at the Atlanta College of Art.
Patti’s work has been shown in presti-
gious exhibits around the country includ-
ing: Noho Gallery LA, The Salmagundi Art
Club, NYC, Monterey Museum of Art, The
Haggin Museum, The Alexandria Museum
of Art, Belskie Museum of Art, The Kar-
peles Library Museum, and Red Dot Fine
Art Gallery, Santa Fe.
She exhibits locally at Seaside Gallery in
Pismo Beach, Gallery Los Olivos in Los Oli-
vos and exclusive artist at Equilibrium Fit-
ness for Women in San Luis Obispo. Her
artwork appears on all the of their product
bottles of her family’s business, “Robbins
Family Farm.”
She has been juried into the National
Association of Women Artists and Women
Painters West. She is a signature member of
the International Society of Acrylic Painters.
She is listed in Who’s Who in American
Art, 26th-30th editions. See more of her work
at passionforcolor.com

Women’s Press • Voices, views and visions of the women of San Luis Obispo County, California • 6000 free copies distributed in SLO County • Subscriptions are available

Staff • Managing Editor / Courtney Brogno / womenspress.slo@gmail.com • Layout & Design / Benjamin Lawless & Ashley Kircher / ben@penciledin.com •
Advertising Team / Rene Sante & Benjamin Lawless / renesophia@yahoo.com

Contributors • Sonia Paz Baron-Vine • MaryAine Curtis • Inglis Carre-Dellard • Ruth Cherry • Jeanie Greensfelder • Laura Grace • Judythe Guarnera • Hilda Heifetz • Lisa
Pimental Johnson • Lisa Jouet • Angie King • Heather Mendel • Jen Mowad • Berta Parrish • Robin Rinzler • Adele Sommers • Jill Turnbow • Andrea Zeller

Volunteers • Berta Parrish • Jane Hill • Judith Bernstein • June Beck • Kathleen Deragon • MaryAine Curtis • Monica Rosecrans • Shairee Collins • Shantel Beckers •
Suzanne Delinger • Renee Sante

Submissions Welcome Articles, essays, opinion pieces, letters, artwork, poetry wanted & appreciated. The Women’s Press reserves the right to edit all submissions for content, clarity &
length. Contact womenspress.slo@gmail.com or call 805-544-9313. Submissions will also be posted online at www.womenspress-slo.org. The opinions expressed in
the Women’s Press are those of the authors & do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Women’s Community Center. The Women’s Community Center does
not necessarily endorse products or services advertised in the Women’s Press.

WCC The Women’s Community Center of San Luis Obispo County, founded in 1974, under the name Women’s Resource Center, exists • to edu-
cate, enlighten, and empower women and their families in San Luis Obispo County by helping them seek new ways to express and develop them-
selves • to be a center for the repository and exchange of information of interest and concern to women through workshops, seminars, classes
and other outlets; • to facilitate communication with other women’s resources both locally and nationally. WCC produces the Women’s Press in
furtherance of these goals.

Women’s Community Center of San Luis Obispo County • A 501(c)3 not-for-profit public corporation • PO Box 15639, San Luis Obispo CA 93406 •
Office located at 4251 S. Higuera St., #800, San Luis Obispo CA 93401 • (805) 544-9313 • wccslo@gmail.com • www.wccslo.org • wccslo.blogspot.com

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Women’s Press March & April 2010
Our Invisible Screen
By Ruth Cherry, PhD
We all have an invisible screen through
which we see the world. These screens grow
from our unconscious beliefs which evolved
from our experience. For instance, if your
childhood experience consisted of being
treated insensitively or abusively by neglect-
ful parents, you have two choices—feel your
hurt and disappointment, find strength to
forgive, and proceed whole with your life.
Alternatively, you could avoid feeling your
feelings, try to stay “in control,” and look
strong even though you harbor resentment
and maintain a distrust of the world.
Feeling our feelings is a purely emotional
exercise. If we choose to avoid our emotional
side, we will rationalize—thinking poorly
instead of feeling honestly. When we form
beliefs based on a need to avoid feeling, we
create a distorted screen through which we
What happened to my daughter?
By Tom Stein
A young girl of 10 gallops into the kitchen to
greet her mother: “It was awesome! I scored
three goals today. It felt great! What’s for
dinner? I can’t wait to tell you about my day.
Can Ashley and Sienna come over for din-
ner? I want them to see my new hamster.
Maybe you can help us with our homework
later...”
Four years later the front door slams as
the same girl runs up the stairs to avoid her
mother. Her mother yells up: “Kathi, what’s
going on? You said we would spend some
time together this afternoon. At least come
down and say hello.” No response. Mom
wonders what happened to the energetic,
curious, considerate daughter she used to
have.
Does this scenario sound familiar? What
happens to girls as they enter adolescence
that they somehow transform from giggling,
happy, talkative, cooperative, and joyful
young people into sullen, secretive, image,
and peer obsessed teens?
Today’s culture presents a different
world to our children than that of 20 years
ago. Our world has become smaller as the
internet and phones universalize the teen
experience. Teens turn to their peers for
information: after all, someone else’s opin-
ion is there at the touch of a few keys. My
(inevitably) misperceive life. We hold onto
our powerless Child well past the time we
could have grown into our powerful Adult.
Although no one would argue that she pre-
fers to identify with her powerless Child, we,
in fact, make that choice when we refuse to
allow our feelings of hurt and rage to pass
because we won’t feel them. (Saying we
release them is not the same as actually expe-
riencing them and allowing them to pass.)
Then we erect a screen which supports
our notion of the world as big and scary. Our
screen tells us the world is unfair, uncaring,
untrustworthy, and dangerous. We move
through life afraid, ungrounded, and defen-
sive. We don’t see or accept responsibility for
how we create our experience today by refus-
ing to heal our experience of yesterday. We
are perpetual victims: we whine, we blame,
we pity ourselves, and we hate others. We
remain needy while we refuse to receive
Continued in SCREEN, page 22
Space, IM’ing, texting, and tweeting all
have allowed instant public opinion and
the accompanying (unsolicited) advice to
replace what used to be given by family and
close friends. This produces a culture of con-
flicting expectations. And what are those
expectations? A teenage girl should be a
fashion-conscious model: beautiful, skinny,
made up, with piercings, tattoos, and the
appropriately chic grungy clothing. She
should be the same as others, but not too
much the same; after all she needs to be an
independent individual who keeps up with
what’s cool. She gets her information from
peers about sex, substance use, and what is
important and what is not, yet she should be
her own person and make her own decisions.
Her reality is not what is in front of her, but
what she hears on her MP3 player, or sees on
the screen of her phone. Her sense of self and
power no longer seems to come from inside,
but from the constant bombardment of rap-
idly changing and chaotic outside influence.
Add all this to our culture’s expecta-
tion that women be super people, nurturers,
homemakers, mothers, breadwinners, and it
is not surprising how confused and lost they
become.
Mary Pipher states in her book Reviv-
ing Ophelia, Saving the Selves of Adolescent
Girls, “Adolescent girls experience a con-
flict between their autonomous selves and
Body & Soul 3
Photo by Harrison Keely
their need to be feminine, between their sta- ing self. The technological innovations of the
tus as human beings and their vocation as past 20 years seem to universalize behaviors
females.” She continues “They struggle with and engender a stronger false sense of self
adolescent questions still unresolved: How than what is authentic. The key is to redis-
important are looks and popularity? How cover and encourage that 10 year old girl
do I care for myself and not be selfish? How whose curiosity, personality, and relation-
can I be honest and still be loved? How can ship to the world come from inside.
I achieve and not threaten others? How can What can be done to facilitate a healthy
I be sexual and not a sex object? How can I transition into womanhood?
be responsive but not responsible for every-
1. Be aware of the internal struggle and
one.” Alice Miller, author of the Drama of
the cultural influences that are in play.
the Gifted Child, believes that adolescent
2. Don’t forget there is still a little girl
girls give up their authentic, natural self, and
inside who needs and craves care and
develop a false self whose validation comes
nurturing despite the tough exterior.
from outside.
3. Watch for signs of extreme or destruc-
Many of the women I see as a therapist
tive behavior but refrain from criticiz-
continue to struggle with these questions as
ing or judging when things aren’t going
they deal with the existential questions of
well.
authenticity and meaning. Who am I within
4. Be supportive, allow age-appropriate
the context of individual, couple, family,
independence and assertiveness, and
and community? How do I meet my needs
5. encourage open communication and trust.
for connection and validation while retain-
ing my sense of self?
How do women resolve this struggle?
Tom Stein is a Marriage and Family Thera-
Margaret Meade defines strength as valu-
pist Intern who lives in Los Osos. He works at
ing all those parts of the self whether they
the North County Women’s Resource Center
are valued by the culture or not. This is a
and in private practice in SLO and Los Osos.
daunting task as evidenced by the number of
He specializes working with women who have
women I see every day whose experience vac-
experienced trauma using EMDR, and with
illates between their pre-adolescent compe-
teens. He is also a certified Life Coach focusing
tent and connected self, and their adolescent
on second careers.
self-conscious, self-critical, and other-pleas-
4 Body & Soul
Toward Healing
Our Global Family
By Heather Mendel
As women walking the path to the conscious
evolution of a sacred humanity, we are aware
of the qualities of the Sacred Feminine in
ourselves and in the world—a respect for
wisdom of the natural world, of which we
are a part; for the deep connection we enjoy
with one another; with the ability we have to
love unconditionally, as a mother loves her
newborn baby without having seen or know-
ing anything about that child; the ability
to learn from one another through the use
of story – stories told, heard, and felt. The
Sacred Feminine pays heed to the invisible
realms that give birth to the inexplicable
coincidences, synchronicities, and serendipi-
ties that give meaning to our lives— all of
which can be summed up in the term con-
nective intimacy
And what of the Sacred Masculine? We
are all too aware of the secular masculine
qualities on which our society is based—
hierarchy, competition, domination and
destruction, judgment, power and control
over others, violence, linear thinking that is
wedded to science, and a greedy consumer-
ism as the only way to function. The Man-
Kind Project, acknowledging the abilities
and talents of the Sacred Masculine, teaches
authenticity, responsibility, accountability,
commitment, and service as the path to fol-
low. Such characteristics are desirable in us
all and will lay the foundations of a harmo-
nious society.
The Sacred Masculine, diverting the
energies previously focused on our physi-
cal survival, can now hone in on honor,
duty and respectful service— to the natural
world, the global family, and to the Divine,
without the conviction of predetermined
concepts. A penchant for scientific enquiry
used in conjunction with an intuitive curi-
osity may lead the way to an enlightened
vision of a peaceful future for all.
L’shalom
In peace
http://www.dancinginthefootstepsofeve.com
http://www.wordartist.com  And so, when we read about states of
http://sacredfemininematters.blogspot.com/
http://twitter/celebratingeve
Bliss Is Not Perfection
By Barbara Atkinson
Birth and death are opposites, not
life and death.
Life is infinite Being.
Many of us in the West are living our lives
with an underlying desire for perfection—
the perfect body, perfect job, perfect look,
perfect spouse, perfect kids, perfect house,
and so on. Even when we outwardly protest
this idea, it is often just below the surface
and feeds the insecurity that what we are
and what we have is “less than” whatever our
idea of perfection is.
Intellectually we grasp that no one is per-
fect, yet everything in our consumer driven
world and its daily advertising bombards us
with the idea that perfection is attainable if
we’d only do more, buy more. We live life as
consumers where we accumulate things to
feel better about our lives because we haven’t
realized that what we really need to consume
is our divinity within. Psychology supports
the idea that no one is perfect and seeks to
assist us in building a sense of self that is able
to hold its own in the face of this ever-pres-
ent bombardment of perfection. This can be
a helpful step, but we may still be left strug-
gling – spirit held at bay in a world of duality
– since spirituality and leading a symbolic
life can go unaddressed in many therapies.
bliss in spiritual literature, the idea of perfec-
tion may come to mind. The word may even
be used by the author, as in “reaching a per-
fected state,” liking it to an ending. This is
because bliss sounds like what we associate
with perfection. We may think perfection
comes from chasing after good and run-
ning away from bad. That’s because perfec-
tion is part of the dualism we assume is Life:
perfect/imperfect; good/bad; male/female;
right/wrong; heaven/earth; and so on. It is
also subjective. Just as with good and bad,
what you describe as perfect may be differ-
ent from what I describe, and certainly dif-
ferent cultures would describe it differently.
The truth is, there is no such thing as per-
fect; it is just a subjective judgment. Duality,
and the limitations of vocabulary, force us
into subjective judgment and a lack of com-
passion, thereby keeping us separate from
the other. It’s not perfection we’re seeking,
but wholeness, and it comes only by embracing
our imperfections as a part of the whole, not
running from, hiding, or banishing them.
Embracing imperfection leads us to embrace
it in all people and things and to find true
compassion. Rather than the dualities of life,
which include perfection, bliss is about com-
ing into harmony with the true fullness of
Life (Being)—all that exists.
What do I mean by Life? Life is whole-
ness, the totality of Being in the moment.
The two opposite poles of the psyche trans-
formed by integration and open to an infi-
nite, vibrant, steady stream of learning and
growth—not just the growth of our physi-
cal body and intellect, but the expanding of
our consciousness.* We see bodies and minds
grow from childhood to old age and all the
stages in between, yet many of us do not
fully realize the degree to which our con-
sciousness can grow, as it has for millen-
nium, and that this growth needs the same
Women’s Press March & April 2010
Photo by Marek Bernat
level of care and attention as our physical body.
We need to awaken to this awareness. It is
this process of awakening to our spiritual
connectedness, to bliss, that does have an
end—an end to the process of integration,
not to the “steady stream of learning” which
is on-going Life.
When you come into harmony with All
That Is, you experience a continuous reverence
for Life. Through compassionate love, appre-
ciation, and acceptance, you no longer resist.
(Doubting and repressing your Self, the vibrant
clarity within, is at the root of all resistance.)
You live in the moment, flow with Life, and
trust Its wisdom. This is Bliss. Consciousness
continues to expand and learn which brings
new information, but there is no struggle: when
you no longer experience yourself as separate
or identify with duality, there is no resistance,
nothing to bump up against—like good strug-
gling as it bumps up against bad.
When we consciously make an agreement
with ourselves to awaken and say “Yes!” to Life,
grace comes to meet us. We embark on a pro-
cess of self-discovery, self-acceptance and lov-
ing kindness which culminates, with grace,
in an end to our identity with duality and the
struggle between those two poles. The ultimate
choice of free will is whether to grow in dual-
ity trying to find perfection, or whether to stop
resisting and grow into the fullness of Being
which is Bliss.
* This is what we call evolution and applies to
everything on and in the earth. When bacteria,
for instance, become resistant to antibiotics, they
have expanded their consciousness and made
physical changes to correspond with that expansion.
Women’s Press March & April 2010
Do “Sweat the Small Stuff”
By Judy Guarnera
“Don’t sweat the small stuff” started run-
ning through my head one unusually warm
December day when I had been perspiring
freely. The sweat trickling down my face had
triggered the memory of a book with that
title that had started a movement years ago.
The idea behind the movement was that we
should not worry about the little daily irrita-
tions over which we have no control.
Another thought ricocheted through my
mind, and I blurted out, “Maybe when it’s
positive, we should sweat the small stuff.”
One day, waiting in a crosswalk on a busy
street, a motorcyclist screeched to a halt and let
me cross. He looked annoyed, possibly because
he had had to slow down. I waved and smiled.
His look of annoyance disappeared, and he
gave me a big smile in return. We both felt
good. Hmm. It was a “small” event, but two
people ended up feeling good.
Life in the United States after 9/11 took
on tones of fear that people had not felt for
a long time. Terrorism alerts and the ongo-
ing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have kept
everyone in a state of near panic. Many peo-
ple have echoed my concern about how all
this could have happened and what we can
do to prevent it from happening again.
I remember reading a request by a friend
of one of the pilots on the 9/11 plane that
crashed in Pennsylvania. He described the
pilot as someone who had volunteered in his
community. For those who felt helpless and
wanted to do something, he suggested they
volunteer in their own communities in the
pilot’s honor. Even small volunteer efforts
add meaning to our lives through the con-
nections. More seemingly small stuff, but
with a far reaching effect.
Let’s decide: instead of trying to fight
terrorism choose to build peace by focus-
ing on small kindnesses, individual connec-
tions, linking us to each other as Americans,
as human beings and citizens of the world.
Small connections of kindness may seem
unimportant at the time but have the poten-
tial of a powerful and long ranging effect.
When I’m waiting in line and commis-
erate with a mother trying to quiet a crying
baby, and we share smiles to pass the time
and ease the tension, I experience an incred-
ible warmth. When children design cards
to send to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan,
when people volunteer to spend the night
at their local churches which are providing
overflow from the shelters for the homeless,
they acknowledge the importance of making
small connections that bind us together.
My friend collects books to send to her
grandson who is trying to educate children in
the Philippine Islands; both of them are sweat-
ing the small stuff. Greg Mortenson, author of
Three Cups of Tea, raises money and travels
to the heights of the Afghanistan mountains
to provide schools for children who had little
hope for a future. He provides everyone with an
opportunity to sweat the small stuff by making
donations to his foundation. Not only do these
add up to enough dollars to build a school, but
schools are a far better choice than bringing in
guns and soldiers.
Normally when Christmas decorations
go up before Thanksgiving and Christmas
music is playing everywhere I go, I mutter
and groan, “Pretty soon they’ll be doing
this by the Fourth of July.” This past sea-
son, after a year of sweating the small stuff,
I found myself enjoying the music, the dec-
orations, and the holiday greetings as soon
as they started. Focusing on small acts of
kindness and friendliness was making me
more joyful.
What I like the most is how this feel-
ing expands until I can’t resist the urge to
be cheerful with everyone. Even the time
I spend waiting in long lines, my feet ach-
ing, offers one of those small opportunities.
I smile at the harassed clerk who guilt-
ily closes his register just as I get there. I
understand when I see people fuss under
such circumstances, and I still do at times,
but I also notice that no one seems any hap-
pier after, including me.
The holiday season reminds us to be
cheerful and kind to everyone and most of
us try to do that. But, you might wonder
as you read this long after the holidays are
behind us, why we should continue to sweat
the small stuff all year long.
When I compare the joy I feel from a
positive connection, with the negativity
I feel when I complain or get angry, the
choice is obvious. Then there are all the
statistics about how focusing on the posi-
tive instead of the negative lowers the blood
pressure, improves physical and mental pro-
ductivity, promotes better eating and sleep-
ing patterns, and can even prolong life.
I have decided, though I could afford
Body & Soul 5
Photo by Maira Kouvara
to lose some weight and get more exer-
cise, my New Year’s resolution is going to
be to “Sweat the Small Stuff at least once
each day.” Each time I encounter someone,
though the contact might seem small or
insignificant to me, I will focus on making
that contact a positive experience for every-
one.
And if I forget that focus, I will remind
myself that a resolution for positive actions
can be implemented at any time, not just at
the beginning of a new year, when resolu-
tions are in vogue. Any time I re-focus on the
small, seemingly un-important opportunities
for connection, it can signal a new beginning.
Join me in looking for chances to do small
positive things for the people around us. Open
doors for fellow shoppers. Help someone pick
up dropped packages. Smile at people you
pass on the street. Read the salesperson’s name
tag and with sincere intention ask how she is
doing or empathize with her on the interaction
she had just had with a cranky customer. And
above all, allow yourself to feel the warmth of
connection that binds us all together.
When we realize that small stuff, positive
or negative, makes up the big stuff, we can
begin to focus on ways to make our country
and our world better places to live. Yes, we
should try not to sweat the small stuff if it
is negative small stuff. But let’s do sweat the
small stuff that provides the opportunity for
positive connections.
Then perhaps, gradually, over time, we
will be so busy smiling, opening doors and
building schools that we won’t have time to
fight wars anymore.
6 Body & Soul
By Inglis Carre’-Dellard, M.F.A.
We are currently on a journey down a ser-
pentine road of twists and turns that we
have been traveling since birth. Our first
steps on the journey are thrilling! What a
wonderful, exciting place the world is! We
explore and learn with great intensity and go
in any direction that seems to offer the most
fun and stimulation. At times our adven-
tures hurt or scare us, and we retreat to the
shelter of our parents’ arms. We recover and
toddle off to explore again.
As we proceed further along the road of
life, our thirst for adventure is tempered by
the knowledge we have gained from past
choices, good and bad. To the extent that we
have learned to avoid dangerous situations
that could harm us, this is an important sur-
vival skill, and hopefully, we also are forti-
fied by enough positive experiences that we
are able to take a detour now and then with
the confidence that our little trip will be a
good one.
Becoming older and more worldly slowly
modifies our readiness to take detours, to do
Choosing the High Road
the unexpected. Year by year we become a
little less flexible and a little more cautious.
We become entirely too…sensible. We may
find ourselves standing before the luscious
banquet of life but have imposed on our-
selves a strict diet that rules out most of the
really delicious stuff!
What do we do when we realize that we
have made more and more choices based on
fear that have led to more choices – choices
that have taken us to an unknown and deso-
late gray land, where we wander, lost. Worse
yet, we suspect that we are no longer our
genuine self but an artificial self made up of
bits and pieces of looks, mannerisms, ideas –
all kinds of “stuff” that has been pasted onto
us by others. We have gladly worn this sec-
ond hand “stuff” to get their approval, and
to avoid the hard work of finding and nur-
turing the real core part of us that we fear
they won’t like as much.
This dismal picture can be changed. We
can begin walking out of the gray waste-
land by taking the first step. The first step
is different for each of us, but for everyone
it involves making for ourselves a time and
place free from distractions. In this quiet
time and place, we can think back to a time
when we chose the high road that beckoned
with interest and excitement, instead of the
drab little alley that would have become our
path by default had we given in to fear.
We can try to remember and re-expe-
rience the way we felt about ourselves and
about the world at that magic moment in
time. What is on the horizon of our pres-
ent life that excites us? Perhaps we have been
thinking of this exciting possibility for years,
but it recedes in front of us like a mirage.
We can’t seem to get close, no matter how
much we yearn for it.
The universe is receiving our message
and is patiently waiting for us to step up and
become a partner in manifesting the desired
outcome. We must take action. Taking
action is difficult when we feel overwhelmed
and intimidated by the apparent distance
of our goal, but if we divide that distance
into shorter segments that are identified by
some kind of marker, the trek becomes more
manageable. If we make it to the little tree a
short distance away, we can look back and
reassure ourselves that we have made some
progress in our trip to the beautiful moun-
Women’s Press March & April 2010
Photo by Fernando Audibert
tain in the distance. Rather than fixating on
the mountain, we can focus on that pretty
rock over there.
If we just perform one small action each
day toward our first marker, we will begin to
move out of the gray wasteland of fear based
choices and into a more colorful world where
things are blooming and full of life. We will
reach the first marker and feel emboldened
to take further actions that will bring us to
the second. The path of our progress will be
littered with bits and pieces of the “stuff” of
our false selves. Fear will still be present, but
will be tamed and walking at heel, not lead-
ing or chasing us. Our radiant true self will
be joyfully striding forward on the high road
to a better life.
Inglis Carre’-Dellard, M.F.A. is a Los Osos
artist and teacher whose teaching style empha-
sizes individuality and self expression in a
nurturing environment. For more informa-
tion on individual creativity counseling or
her “Awaken Your Creativity” class at the San
Luis Obispo Art Center in April, contact her at
ingartist@yahoo.com or 805.534.9693.
Women’s Press March & April 2010
The Law of Good
By Laura Grace
We are amidst the splendor of spring and
moving closer to the fullness that unfolds
with summer. Everywhere we look, we can
see color, light, and beauty.
Despite how heavy our burden may feel at
times, in truth, we have so much to be grate-
ful for, so many blessings appearing in myr-
iad forms. As we recognize that there is a Law
of Good that governs our affairs, we begin
to release those insidious thoughts of doubt,
fear, and uncertainty. Accepting the Law of
Good that governs all things takes courage
and faith and entails accepting all of the good
that is in our life, right here, right now.
In the prosperity-building program,
“Keys to the Kingdom,” creator and author,
David Owen Ritz, states: “That which you
focus and dwell upon—with a feeling of love
and gratitude—you will tend to multiply
and attract.” Changing from an attitude of
insufficiency to a feeling of fullness and gen-
erosity is something called “Pro-active Grati-
tude” and it entails the following practices:
1. Becoming conscious of the good in
your life—all of it!
2. Praising the good in your life and pay
tribute to the good in the lives of oth-
ers as well.
3. Sharing the good in your life with others.
4. Looking for the good even in the nega-
tive (i.e., the hidden blessings and gifts
that emerge from our greatest chal-
lenges as the poet, Oliver, once penned:
“Someone I loved once gave me a box full
of darkness. It took me years to understand
that this one, too, was a gift.”)
Photo by Ivan Vicencio
Let us not be deceived by appearances,
nor be tempted to succumb to the false
belief that we live in a world that is driven
by lack, limitation, and scarcity. We live in
an abundant Universe that supplies an inex-
haustible supply of love, ideas, and energy.
In her book Dare to Prosper, Catherine
Ponder shares, “A reader of mine once wrote:
‘I don’t believe in recessions! I watched my
mother become rich during the depression
of the 1930’s when she dwelled upon ‘the rich
substance of the universe’ instead of dwell-
ing upon appearances of financial limita-
tion. So instead of fretting about recession,
depression, inflation or the high cost of liv-
ing, dwell on ‘divine substance.’”
When you dare to declare that divine
good is the one and only reality in your life,
you are well on the way to solving your own
ills as well as helping to solve the ills of man-
kind.
May you experience the richness of
your own spirit and extend it to everyone
you encounter.
Laura V. Grace is the Spiritual Leader for the
Circle of Spiritual Enlightenment in San Luis
Obispo (www.spiritualcircle.org), an interfaith
spiritual community. Laura is also a teacher
and spiritual director, and a member of Spir-
itual Directors International. A syndicated
columnist for more than twenty publications,
Laura has penned 200 articles on spiritual
growth and is the author of the books Gifts of
the Soul and The Intimate Soul.
If You Only Had a Year To Live!
By MaryAine Curtis
Is it possible that I’ve become comfortable in
the pattern or the story that I’ve told myself
for years? Even if I feel ok with the path I
follow, is it really what I want to do with
my life? Do you ever wonder about what
it would be like if you followed a different
dream? Do you want more in your life?
I believe that my spirit is like a barom-
eter that shows me when to stick with some-
thing because it feels right and when to give
something up because my spirit is heavy and
it feels wrong. I was taught to play it safe, be
a good girl, and follow directions. I was very
curious and that got me into trouble. I tried
to do things based on what I was taught,
but by the time I was 35 years old, I was very
depressed from being in the box that I put
myself in. I was trying to be someone else.
It wasn’t who I wanted to be. My spirit was
dying. I had to make a choice about my life,
and that meant making big scary changes.
It was scarier to stay where I was though.
That meant that it was time to grow up and
make some mature decisions about what to
do next. Sometimes I still change my mind
because I don’t like where I end up. I’ve
learned it’s okay to change my mind. I also
feel that I was given a second chance at life.
I had to get myself out of that box in
order to be able to live life differently. As I
think about the possibility that this could
be my last Valentine’s Day or Easter, I want
to be in the moment and choose more from
my heart than my head. When I don’t make
the effort, take the risk, jump in, and stretch
myself—then I’m wondering what to do
with myself. It feels the best when I’m stay-
ing in the moment. feels to stay in the box, and then how to get
I have this vision of looking back on
my life and savoring all the good memo-
ries, including what may have seemed like
mistakes. I really don’t want to have regrets
because I held on to family burdens that
kept me stuck in fear and doing what was
expected of me. I took a chance to find out
what I love to do and that’s what I do today.
Body & Soul 7
What’s important to you? Just imag-
ine what you’ve thought of doing someday.
If you want to hike Half Dome, join the
Peace Corps, live in South America, teach in
Japan, or stay home with your children—do
it!!! The only thing you have to lose is pro-
crastination and any fear that you may have
of not making a difference in your life and
others. You can do it your way. I’m here if
you need help.
If this was your last birthday, how would
you choose to spend it? Life is for living fully
whether in contemplation or living full tilt.
You have the power and imagination to do
anything today. Explore, experience, grow,
and sparkle as you create your own story,
your way.
MaryAine Curtis is an Emissary of JOY!
As well as a Spiritual Counselor, teacher and
Inner Transformation Coach. Her website is
www.return2joy.com
(Come to my Women’s Press workshop and
we’ ll explore what it is that would bring you
joy. You may have struggled with doing things
someone else expects you to do and need to dis-
cover what brings you joy. Identify what gets
you excited and you’re on your way to having
an interesting and rewarding life).
Workshop: Jill in the box.
Jill out of the box.
In this workshop we will discuss our
story based on what others wanted us to do.
We will explore and discover more of what
you wished you could do. Experience how it
out of the box. I’ll lead a guided meditation
to help you discover your story. We’ll play
with the impressions from the meditation
and then put it on paper, what it feels like
to write your new story as if this was the last
year that you have to live. What will you let
go of and what will you do more of?
 8 4251 S. Higuera Street, Suite 800, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 | 805 544-9313 Women’s Community Center

Time WCC Open House

By Sonia Paz Baron-Vine The Women’s Community Center is hav-
ing an Open House on April 16th from
2:00pm to 4:00pm with lots of yummy
Time passes by so fast
food and drinks to celebrate our new
we turn around and ten years Now some are engaged,
location at 4251 S. Higuera Street (where
have come and gone.. Some are married,
Los Osos Valley Road dead ends onto
  some have children
Higuera Street). We welcome every-
I have a photo of my children some are in school
one to attend and find out more about
taken ten years ago some work,
the WCC: what we do and how we help
all six of them sitting on the sofa some live far away
women and their families in the San Luis
smiling at me... some still live at home..
Obispo County. We will also welcome
  And as I type this poem
anyone that might be interested in vol-
Now ten years later my grandson plays with
unteering their time and/or becoming a
I smile at them when I look his toys next to me,
board member! Come and get some grub,
at that sweet photo, they as time goes by...
and find out more about who we are and
were so small then...
what we do! If you have any questions,
 
Photo by Mohammed Odeh please call Robin Rinzler at: 801-3235 or
call the WCC at: 544-9313.

Time for a Nomination!

By Sonia Paz Baron-Vine
WCC board member
Time for a Nomination!
I wanted to write an article to share
with all of you and also to keep this infor-
mation for posterity.
We are nominating our sister, board
member, and colleague, Robin Rinzler,
to be the Cuesta College 2010 Woman of
Distinction for Community and Public
Service, Volunteer. We believe Robin is
the perfect woman to win this most pres-
tigious award.
It would take me several pages, to
tell you all the services Robin provides
for our community, but I will give you a
small glimpse into her volunteer life.
Robin has been on the Wom-
en’s Community Center Board
of Directors since 2004,
where she has personally
been an inspiration to me. I
have observed her dedication
to tasks, her uplifting atti-
tude, her compassion and
her work ethic; all of which
is very contagious!
She is the coordinator of
the Family Law Action pro-
grams of the WCC, and, as
such, oversees the monthly
seminar meetings on divorce
issues, runs the monthly legal clinic,
which provides legal advice to women and
their families, who need help, but can-
not afford an attorney. Robin is the force
behind all these programs. She  makes
the calls, sets up the appointments, and
attends the seminars and clinics, always
arriving early to set up and staying late to
clean up after.
As a professional mediator and owner
of her own divorce mediation business,
she sometimes donates
time either to the Court
for mediation of small
claims cases or as a guest
speaker to talk about con-
flict resolution.
Robin has also devel-
oped a new program with
the Women’s Community
Center called B.E.T.T.E.R.
Supervised Vistitation.
(Building Enduring Ties
That Enrich Relation-
ships) This program allows anyone in our
county to obtain affordable supervised
visitation as ordered by the Court.  She
has trained several volunteers to become
monitors, has developed all the paper-
work necessary, and has the ball rolling to
begin this project in the next few weeks.
Every year the WCC celebrates our
major fundraiser: “Day with Creative
Women” in Mission Plaza. It is Robin
who organizes the vendors, the volun-
teers, the city permits, the decorations,
traffic and a million other details, mak-
ing each year a huge success and loads
of fun. Robin also picks up the Wom-
en’s Press newspaper, the WCC publica-
tion, bimonthly, from the printer in Santa
Maria, loading 6.000 copies into her van
and unloading them at the WCC in SLO,
often without help.
She also volunteers every Christmas
Day with her husband Paul at the Odd-
Fellows Hall in San Luis helping to feed
the homeless. She arrives two hours before
dinner is served and stays to help clean up
after.
Robin is a brilliant, fun and wonder-
ful woman, and as our WCC president
Angie King said, “ Robin Rinzler uses
her considerable intellect and education
to rationally determine a course of action
and then follows through.” We are hop-
ing with much love and fingers crossed
that Robin wins this most deserv-
ing award!!
 Women’s Community Center 805 544-9313 | PO Box 15639, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 9

We’re at it again!
It’s the 36th Annual Day with Creative Women
By Angie King
I’m from Sunnyvale, CA in the Bay Luis Obispo. I was first interested in tra- of design, to make the work aesthetically
Area. I came to Cal Poly because I was ditional drawing and painting, creating pleasing while being able to convey a clear
interested in their graphic design pro- beautiful work that was pleasing to the message. I am very interested in doing
gram and was drawn to the beauty of San eye, but later became attracted to using promotional work for non-profits and
art as a form of communication and send- small businesses and help them spread
The WCC Board is getting organized ing a message to the viewer. In my work, the word about the many good causes
a little earlier this year (we hope) and I try to combine elements of tra- they support. I have worked with Central
plans for this August’s Day with Creative ditional fine art and the clarity Coast Grown, part of the Central Coast
Women are already well underway. This Agricultural Network, to improve their
year, for the first time, WCC is collabo- promotional materials and to encourage
rating with the county Commission on restaurants to buy food from local grow-
the Status of Women (CSW) as co-spon- ers. I helped with the redesign of the
sors of the daylong arts and crafts festival look of the Art after Dark adver-
in Mission Plaza. Scheduled for the sec- tising for ARTS Obispo, the
ond Saturday in August, it will take place San Luis Obispo Arts Council,
this year on August 14, 2010. to encourage people to attend
With the addition of the CSW, we shows of local artists. Finally,
have great hopes for an expanded, even I was happy to work with the
more exciting Day in the plaza, filled Women’s Community Center and
with more vendors, selling a greater vari- the San Luis Obispo Commission
ety of their creative work; more non profit on the Status of Women on their
organizations available to inform the Day with Creative Women Poster. I
public about their services for women wished to highlight the great contribu-
in the County; more business women tions many talented women provide to
articulating just what creative spark got the art field, and I thought the event was
them excited about their business and wonderful way to showcase those con-
how others can get involved; music from tributions. Although I have no certain
local groups; children’s activities; and as plans for the future, I do wish to con-
always, the wonderful ambience of a day tinue to use my artistic and design skills
under the sycamores filled with good to work with organizations and business
energy. With the new energy of the Com- to promote good causes and to encourage
missioners, we hope to expand the event people to participate and support those
to include some pre-festival opportuni- causes.
ties, like a festival of women’s films and
even a staged performance of Lysistrata
from Code Pink. Illustration by
WCC asked the Cal Poly Illustration Yelena V. Kozlova
class for ideas for a poster, and we were
stunned by the grace and beauty of the
poster selected. You can see a preview of
it here; wait until we get all the bands and
sponsors lined up and printed on it and
start spreading it around town; it’s a col-
lector’s item.
The artist is 4th year art student
named Yelena Kozlova. We asked her for
some biographical information about
herself, and this is what she said:
10 Motherhood
Attached Parenting
Principle 5: Ensuring Safe Sleep, both emotionally and physically
By Jennifer Kaplan
What is the number one question new
parents are always asked? “How is your
baby sleeping?” It is for some reason what
everyone wants to know. Do they ask out
of curiosity? To sympathize over sleepless
nights as they have done? Is it competition
(“oh my baby slept through the night by 6
weeks”)? Is it to offer advice, “We always
give a formula bottle before bed, keeps
them full longer!”). Often I think it is all of
the above. From the well intentioned best
friend to the annoyances of your mother in
law, everyone has something to say about
sleep! As if it the golden marker of your
parenting skills. It goes without saying
that people think: good sleeper, good baby,
good mama.
When I had my first child I was, from the
get go, very nurturing, attached, and sensitive
to my infant’s needs. I nursed on demand,
held and cuddled my baby, and had no prob-
lem letting the baby fall asleep in my arms or
hold the baby on my chest for a long nap (for
both of us!). As my baby grew out of infancy,
I started to feel the pressure from others to
get my baby to self soothe and to sleep on
his own. The onslaught of baby book rec-
ommendations came my way. I read many,
disagreed with most, and became a rattle of
nerves! I tried this technique or that one, to
no success (mainly because I was not will-
ing to listen to my baby’s crying!). I threw
away the books and went back to what I have
always done. Nurse my baby to sleep, nestle
him against me at night, and when he awoke,
he would suckle his way back into a slumber.
Peace. Easy. And we were all sleeping. (My
husband loved this arrangement). There was
no in and out of bed to nurse, burp, change
diapers, rock back to sleep. We were all sleep-
ing, all night. If my son had a fever, I felt it
right away with his hot head pressed against
mine. If he had a nighttime, I was right there
to soothe him. When we traveled it was a
breeze. We decided the family bed was for us
and loved every minute, until my son was 3
and decided he wanted to sleep in his big boy
bed. Another smooth transition. And he is
still welcome in our bed whenever he wishes,
though it’s a little bit of a tighter squeeze with
his baby sister in our bed now too.
We have many friends, I would even say,
most parents we know, who choose to sleep
train their children. There are gentle ways
and not so gently ways to train your babies.
Through my research it appears that many
Women’s Press March & April 2010
Here are some of the facts regarding
sleep according to Attachment Parenting
experts:
Babies have needs at night just as they
do during the day: from hunger, loneli-
ness, and fear, to feeling too cold or too
hot. They need the reassurance of a lov-
ing parent to feel secure during the night.
Many babies do go through a phase where
they sleep for longer periods of time only
to begin waking at night during differ-
ent developmental stages. They may wake
occasionally during nightmares, teeth-
ing, illness, growth spurts, or during times
of transition in their lives. Babies are very
sensitive to their parents’ stress, which can
affect their sleep patterns. The part of the
brain that helps with self-soothing isn’t
well developed until the child is two and a
half to three years of age. Until that time,
a child depends on his parents to help him
calm down and learn to regulate his intense
feelings.
And some info from Dr. Sears, the
Photo by Emily Cahal predominant pediatrician in the field of
attachment parenting:
babies who go to sleep easily, self-soothe,
and stay asleep through their sleep cycles, Nighttime Parenting Lesson #1:
do so, because of their own programming.
The parent aids in their sleepiness by pro- Babies need to be parented to sleep, not just
viding them a safe, cozy place to sleep and put to sleep. Some babies can be put down
baby happily goes along. This is a dream while drowsy yet still awake and drift oth-
baby. ers need parental help by being rocked or
However most babies are not self sooth- nursed to sleep.
ers, do not like to sleep alone, and wake
often. These are the babies that parents Nighttime Parenting Lesson #2:
have to train by allowing the child to cry
it out. There is much written about this Some babies need help getting back to
type of nighttime parenting (or, non-par- sleep. Some “re-settlers” or “self-sooth-
enting). Baby cries. Parent ignores. Baby ers” can go through this vulnerable period
accepts abandonment. Baby stops crying without completely awakening, and if they
and sleeps. Success? I’m not so sure. Baby do wake up, they can ease themselves back
has learned helplessness. Parent doesn’t into a deep sleep. Other babies need a help-
interact with child for 12 hours. And from ing hand, voice, or breast to resettle back
everything I hear about from my friends into deep sleep.
who choose to adopt this method, when-
ever there is a cold, a tooth, an upset When I think of sleep and babies I
tummy, a cool breeze, the need to travel, think of how we as adults like to drift off
well….this whole nighttime routine is into our nightly slumber: peacefully, cozy,
thrown into a tizzy. Sound machines and warm, calm and in the arms of a loved
sleep positioners are purchased. Motrin one. I believe that that is what our children
and gas drops become part of the nighttime deserve and that they will grow up and will
routine. Video monitors are purchased to find sleep to be incredibly fulfilling and
watch baby from afar. Perhaps solid feeding will not cause any anxiety. What a great
is introduced to beg a few more hours of a long term gift we can give to our children.
full tummy.
Women’s Press March & April 2010
Rise in Maternal Death Rate
Linked to Cesarean Sections:
Why Aren’t They Telling Us?
By Jennifer Stover
On Tuesday February 3rd the San Fran-
cisco Chronicle published an article with
the disturbing headline, “Pregnancy Related
Death Rate on the Rise.” It turns out a task
force headed up by a scientist in the Califor-
nia Department of Public Health started a
study back in 2006. There were gasps from
the audience and basic disbelief when they
reported their findings at an American Col-
lege of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’
conference in 2007. The attending doctors
seemed to think it was implausible that in
this day and age with all our current tech-
nology, we could possibly be getting worse
outcomes for mothers. (A side note is that
we are also getting worse outcomes for our
babies. The rate of “premature” babies that
end up in our neonatal intensive care units
is growing too!). They don’t seem to see or
perhaps they don’t want to see that there is
actually a link between the increase in tech-
nological birth and the bad outcomes. In
2008 a second study confirmed the initial
study’s findings.
And here it is 2010 and the California
Department of Public Health has still not
released this study to the public. In other
words the very people who most need to
know about this study, the women every
day who are getting cut open to give birth in
our country, are being kept in the dark. We
continue to be sold the myth that a cesarean
birth is completely safe, even in some ways
preferable to a vaginal birth. Our culture
continues to promote the idea of choosing
dates and scheduling inductions or cesareans
without even any labor at all. Women con-
tinue to think this is a safe way to escape the
pain of labor. Do you think this would be
happening if women were advised by their
doctors that their chance of dying while giv-
ing birth would more than double if they are
induced or schedule a cesarean?
Although the study’s findings have still not been
released, a California Task Force has begun pilot
projects to bring down the death rate. What are they
doing? Encouraging the reduction of the induction
rate! Why? Because studies show that an induction
doubles your chances of “needing” to have your baby
come by major abdominal surgery.
In 2002, the medical director at one
Orange County hospital instituted new
guidelines for elective inductions: no induc-
tions before 41 weeks of pregnancy. That
means no scheduling an induction because
that’s when Grandma will be in town or
because the next week your O.B. is going
on vacation. It also means women don’t get
to their 39 week prenatal visit and have the
doctor cheerily inform them that they will
put them on the schedule to be induced if
they haven’t had their baby by week 40.
From my own experience as a doula, I can
tell you how critical that last week is for
moms’ bodies to prepare for labor. Their
body chemistry is slowly building toward a
perfect hormonal balance to begin and sup-
port a labor that will progress until their
baby is born.
And what has happened at the Orange
County hospital? They have fewer babies
who need to spend their first days in a neo-
natal intensive care unit separated from their
parents instead of bonding and breastfeed-
ing at home. They have fewer maternal hem-
orrhages, which is the leading cause of death
for mothers during the birth process. And
they have fewer emergency hysterectomies,
which is what they have to do to save her life
if a woman is bleeding to death. The hospital
has also seen its profits go down. Full O.R.s,
neonatal units, and longer hospital stays for
recovering moms equal big bucks. Remem-
ber having a baby by cesarean surgery is, at a
minimum, twice as expensive.
Here it is by the numbers, ladies:
• California Maternal Death Rate 1996:
5.6 mothers die per 100,000 live births.
• 2006: 16.9 mothers die per 100,000
live births.
California’s rate is even worse than the
national rate which is 13.3. My guess as to
why we are higher is a deadly combination
of cultural factors, fear of liability by doc-
tors, and Hollywood stars fueling a “too
posh to push” mentality.
Here is a question I would like answered.
Where does the fact that we have gone
back to the “once a cesarean always a cesar-
Continued in CESAREAN, page 22 and family of the author. You will meet
Children’s Bookshelf
By Lisa Pimentel Johnson
Recently, poems have been swirling around
in my mind like confetti. It was no surprise
then that my eyes latched onto a children’s
book of poems by Jeff Foxworthy. Yes, that
Jeff Foxworthy who is also one of the most
successful and respected recorded comedians
in the country. He has written more than
twenty-two books, hosts a popular TV show,
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, and
runs a syndicated weekly radio show, The
Foxworthy Countdown. I don’t know how
he found the time to write poems for chil-
dren, but thankfully he did, and they cap-
ture the very essence of being a child. Here’s
one example of the poems in his book, Dirt
on My Shirt.
Dirt on My Shirt
There’s dirt on my shirt
And leaves in my hair
There’s mud on my boots
But I don’t really care.
Playing outside is so much fun
To breathe the clean air
And feel the warm sun.
To stomp in a puddle
Or climb a big tree
Makes me quite happy
Just look and you’ll see.
Jeff’s sly humorous words work well with
the charming illustrations of Steve Bjork-
man. To add a bit of playfulness to the book,
look carefully at the picture for the poem,
What Do You See?, and find all the objects
mentioned. By turning the pages of this
book, you enter the neighborhood, friends,
Motherhood 11
Photo by Clarita
Aunt Foo Foo, Cousin Lizzy, Uncle Moe,
snakes, and even flying to the imaginary
planet Woosocket. Maybe it will inspire you
to write your own poetry with your child
and color it with balloons, bugs, or mud!
How can I ever eat bacon again after
falling in love with the slightly high main-
tenance pig called Olivia? The author and
illustrator, Ian Falconer, enchants the reader
with an unforgettable fashionista doll faced
pig who has theatrical attitude and talent. In
the book, Olivia, the graphic use of black,
red, white, and all values in between, herald
back to the author’s art design credentials
for the New York City Ballet, the San Fran-
cisco Opera, and the Royal Opera House
in Convent Garden, among many others.
This gifted artist also slides into his book
a few recognizable famous works of art: on
page 26, a detail from Ballet Rehearsal on
the Set by Edgar Degas and on page 29, a
detail from Autumn Rhythm #30 by Jack-
son Pollock. Weaving art appreciation with
a cute little story about a porcine heroine is
pure genius! Olivia will impress you with her
self esteem, her wardrobe, and her spirit for
life. It may also make you pause before eat-
ing bacon again!
It sounds kind of sappy,
But it makes me happy,
To have a good look,
Through any children’s book!
12 Local Perspectives Women’s Press March & April 2010

Death Valley,
Dani Nicholson:
The Dragon Lady
and El Nino Rescuing and Rehabilitating Wildlife
By Jacque Halsey

The Dragon Lady was primed and ready

to run. She was wearing her new front
fork seals, brand new mirror, packed to
the max and filled with Av gas... good for
her fine tuned engine.
She is woman... watch her romp, through
the twisties, singing to the emerald hills...
she and el nino on a run.
She daring, he assaulting. Their harmony
of whipping wind, crashing thunder,
bouncing hail stones equal to the siren
songs ...enticing all who cared to join.
Once committed there was no refusing.
The joy of friends, snow and flowers,
ballet and flash floods, tea time and
shivers...who wolda thunk. Such rapture
in a minuscule ball of time.
The men say, Hey, what about the
technical aspects..they forget the pure joy.
The magic on the offering plate...a camel
ride, Valentines dance at the Cantina, Unsung Heroine
being led to the all ducky grain ball
machine by those tricky quackers and the
wonder of laughter. By Berta Parrish obtained the necessary training and permits mals could be saved that way. And, I mean
to rehabilitate seabirds at her home. Later, it figuratively, too. I want to see everything
Chasing El Nino on two wheels, twisting One of the most pleasurable aspects of living desiring a deeper commitment, she served as around me, instead of racing past nature on
his tail, wringing out sunshine, rain and on California’s Central Coast is the abun- treasurer and then as president of the Board the way to a destination.” By working less,
whistling wind. Visions of fantasia across dance and diversity of its wildlife. Watch- of Directors. In 2007, she and her husband she’ll have more time for her two grandchil-
the desert land. ing pelicans and gulls soar over the ocean sold their Sunshine Health food store, and dren and for serving on the SLO operations
and listening to songbirds, doves, and owls Dani became the chair of the newly built of the Marine Mammal Center Council. Of
Sings of warning, BEWARE, be cautious, in our yards adds a wondrous dimension to Pacific Wildlife Care Center in Morro Bay. course, she’s not leaving PWC. She’ll con-
flood zone, road closed ahead. The life, lifting our spirits and bringing us closer In this position, she overseas the center’s tinue as a wildlife rehabilitator at the Center
Dragon Lady rushed on....and the brave to the natural world. However, most people operations by training and scheduling vol- and at her home.
followed. appreciate this world from a distance while unteers, by coordinating special and fund Dani wants to return to the same state
The pot of gold....pure glorious sunshine a special few dedicate their time and talent raising projects, and by supervising general of balance that we wish for the rescued
at the end of the ride, there was no to the health of the animals who share this maintenance and the care of the animals. animals, for ourselves, and for our planet.
stopping. The difference between Mars beautiful coast with us. One of these self- PWC’s mission is two-fold: 1) to rehabili- Observing and relating to animals are her
and Venus....on a motorcycle. less naturalists is Dani Nicholson, wildlife tate and return orphaned or injured terres- form of meditation. “When I focus on the
rehabilitator and Board of Directors Center trial mammals, birds, and seabirds to their animals,” she explains, “I experience a feel-
Operations Chair of Pacific Wildlife Care natural habitat; and 2) to educate the com- ing of peace. When I’m with the birds, I
(PWC). munity to value and respect wildlife and relax.”
Submitted by Sue McMeans on behalf of “I’ve always been an animal person. I’m its environment. This mission is especially The animals around us, the human and
writer, Jacque Halsey. Jacque used to be in tune with animals and nature, even spi- important now as the brown pelican popu- more-than-human, have so much to share
Chief of Operations at the SLO Airport. ders fascinates me with their webmaking,” lation is suffering from a mysterious aliment and to teach us about living, thriving, and
She is now  Chief of Operations at  sev- Dani admits. “Birds and animals make me that has left more than 500 birds weakened dying, if only more people, like Dani, would
eral airports in the Eureka/Arcada area of feel alive.” This relationship with nature or dead along the California coast since the slow down, open their hearts and eyes to
California. urged her to save a litter of orphaned opos- beginning of this year. watch, and listen.
sums found on her property in Cayucos. Following her own advice, Dani is
Consequently, she sought help from PWC, resigning as PWC Center Chair in March.
and she hasn’t left the organization since. “I ask people to slow down. Literally, drive Visit www.pacificwildlifecare.org to
Starting as a volunteer in 2001, she slower – let the animals pass. So many ani- learn more about Pacific Wildlife Care
Women’s Press March & April 2010
Photo taken by Emanuel Lobeck
2010
By Ashley Howard
Well I must say that so far 2010 is hands
down kicking 2009’s sweet little ass! The
first half of 2009 was basically identical to
the previous years of my life: work, work,
work, and live if and when there’s time; but
first – work! Booo-ring, redundant, and just
flat out lame!!! I have spent my entire life
somewhat mindlessly setting and achiev-
ing goal after goal, and have rarely taken the
time to actually explore what it is in this life
that brings me joy. Finally during the sum-
mer of 2009, I decided to quit with the b.s.
so called ‘American Dream’ lifestyle that I
was partaking in, and instead made a con-
scious decision to start living!  it’s similar to doing inventory...like I may
Last summer I made a commitment with
myself to stop going through the motions.
To stop living in fear. To stop making
assumptions. To stop wondering and to start
wandering! To go wherever the wind blows
me. So far, it has been the most incredibly
liberating experience of my life! I often feel
like I’ve literally been born again.  to evaluate where I currently stand in each
I can’t help but think about how many
other people there may be in this world
that are also just going through the motions
and not actually taking the time to realize
exactly what it is that they do want out of
this life. How do we let this happen? After
all, this is our life...and each of us has a
unique purpose right? It’s interesting to
think that we can get so wrapped up in the
demands of the day to day that we become
smothered and depleted so much so that we
don’t even have the strength to assess the situ-
ation. Interesting for sure, but all in all, truly
heart breaking.
From time to time I sit down and eval-
uate my life and take a moment to look at
the aspects that are in the forefront of my
mind from every angle. Yes, this is the overly
analytical Ashley showing its weary head. I
justify this madness by telling myself that
do from time to time with say---my shoes!?
Some areas that I tend to evaluate are: My
work life, or as I like to call it—my pur-
pose. My relationships--friendship, family,
and romantic. My health--body, mind, and
spirit. My interests, passions, and/or aspects
of life that I feel compelled to explore. I like
department and cross-reference it with my
vision. It’s a great awareness to have because
it allows me to gain clarity on whether or not
Woven Thoughts
By Anna Trent Moore
Out of our heart, our thoughts emerge. Our
thoughts then become our actions, and our
actions define who we are. All this is inter-
connected and woven like a finely created
piece of fabric.
It is a simple stitch really. The pulling of
string through a loop. I was amazed to dis-
cover how quickly I found a sense of comfort
in this timeless rhythm of repetition. How
quickly I found a sense of genuine gratitude
in the repetition of performing the same
stitch over and over again. But perhaps what
is most amazing of it all is that while doing
this dance with your hands, this making of
music with needle and string, your mind
is processing a rhythm of thoughts as well.
It’s as if while there is rhythm with your
hands, there is song in your mind. A song
I’m on my path. It’s important though to not
focus on what you don’t want, but instead to
simply acknowledge what isn’t serving you,
and then to quickly shift your focus on to
exactly what it is that you do want.  And overall, I’m enjoying having the time
Prior to being born again this past sum-
mer, more times than not I found myself
focusing, discussing, and/or dwelling/
fearing what I didn’t want. Interestingly
enough, those things that I feared are what
I kept experiencing in life: financial stress-
ors, less than ideal relationships, nagging
health challenges, and overall discontent-
ment on more than one level. Hindsight is
always more clear, and looking back I feel
that I am greatly responsible for the chal-
lenges that I experienced because I believe
that whatever we set our intentions on, our
emotions toward, and are passionate about is
exactly what will be delivered to us. I believe
this because this is what I have witnessed in
my life and those around me that I’m close
to. What we resist, often persists.  A New Year’s Resolution is a commitment
I feel that the past 6 months have been
some form of a vacation for me. I chose to
vacate from the life that I became so com-
fortable with in order to explore and pursue
a life with more purpose in hopes of experi-
encing a heightened level of passion. So far,
Local Perspectives 13
of thoughts. Thoughts of the day, thoughts
of the hours, thoughts of your life…from
your mind…to your hands… to the yarn…
to the woven objects you create. In fact, your
very being becomes a part of this woven fab-
ric. Your very person becomes woven into
this fabric that only you create with your
very own hands. You, your thoughts, this
thing…it is all intertwined.
So you see, when you give this garment,
blanket, scarf, or whatever it becomes, to
another person, it is a rare gift. You are offer-
ing a gift that represents a piece of yourself.
What more can one person give to another
human being than a gift of themselves?
You are gifting a piece of yourself… your
thoughts…woven into this thing that you
have created. Woven thoughts.
so good. I love the new location that I chose
to reside in. I love working in a less demand-
ing and emotionally taxing environment.
The single life is serving its purpose thus far.
and mental/emotional freedom that is neces-
sary for me to further understand and create
my true hearts desires. 
The tail end of 2009 proved to be pretty
damn incredible, and I know that 2010 will
continue to be a year of further transfor-
mation. It’s not only a new year, but a new
decade: starting with a year that I foresee
further change, excitement, and renewal
on many levels. For me, in 2010 I will con-
tinue to explore this world. I will continue
to appreciate and live in the here and now
freely and not fearfully. I will continue to
be open to loving another wholeheartedly. I
will continue to live simply. And I will con-
tinue to be at peace with the fact that all
that I’ll ever need is within me. 
that an individual makes that is generally
interpreted as advantageous. I encourage you
to spend some time with yourself and to take
a peek into the different aspects of your life.
Determine what is serving you and what is
not. Then ask yourself if you are truly ‘living,’
or if you too need to be born again in 2010!
14 Local Perspectives
My Mother’s Piano
By Kate Updike O’Connor
My grandfather gave my mother a Stein-
way baby grand piano when she was a young
woman about to be married. He had sup-
ported her passion for years with piano les-
sons and plentiful sheet music, and she’d
grown used to encouragement from the
main man in her life. Unfortunately for my
mother, her first husband, my father, was a
different sort of man. The story goes that
he denigrated her talent, or at least didn’t
appreciate her deep love for the piano. The
story further goes that he came home from
work and wondered why she wasn’t scrub-
bing the kitchen floor instead of playing
her piano. And this failure to understand
a passion so fundamental to my mother’s
being caused the marriage to sour early on.
It ended after only six years with my mother
hospitalized for severe depression.
In the early years of her marriage, I sup-
pose she tried to play out her unhappiness
on the piano. She had two babies in quick
succession and a husband who lacked a cul-
tured soul. I imagine her lost for hours at the
keyboard, a baby’s playpen pulled up along-
side. My older brother’s baby teeth marks
still etch the wood at one end of it. By the
time I was born, the third child in five years,
my mother broke down and entered a Phil-
adelphia mental hospital for an extended
stay. I’ve been told she agreed to come home
once the depression lifted, only if my father
moved out. She blamed him for her unhap-
piness. The marriage ended.
I was six when my mother married again.
We all moved into a new house together in
central Pennsylvania. The house was mod-
est, the suburban cookie-cutter type. To
accommodate her piano in the small living
room, my mother created some faux wall
space. She designed chocolate brown ceil-
ing-to-floor draperies to go across one entire
wall, serving as a curtain for the large pic-
ture window, but also to cover over the front
door, making it inoperable. The wall space
created by covering the door provided the
perfect spot for Mom’s piano. From inside
the house, there was no way to know that a
door hid behind those drapes. We managed
fine using the smaller side door that opened
from the living room to the outside. How
clever she was to think of this decorating
trick, motivated as it was to house her piano.
Recovered from depression, at least for
the time being, my mother played with
what must have been renewed vigor. There
was no escaping the music in such a small
house. I grew to hate it, especially on a Sun-
day afternoon, if it was raining and dreary,
when Mom might be practicing a melan-
cholic Chopin. She didn’t know I watched
her as I skulked around the house. With
a child’s understanding, I knew that my
mother’s piano granted her a sanctuary of
sorts. This meant that when she played, she
became unavailable to those around her. She
appeared possessed by her piano, half bent
over the keys, her fingers wed to them, eyes
half closed, her foot working the pedal as
if detached from her body. She’d play pas-
sages repeatedly when she was studying a
new piece, a practice that made me want to
Photo by Prof Alex
scream. How I resented that piano. And it
ruined Chopin for me.
When I was ten, we moved from the tiny
house in Pennsylvania to a sprawling Victo-
rian in New Jersey, a baby brother in tow.
Piano music overtook even so large a house,
especially with the extensive wood floors
and few carpets to absorb the sound. A cen-
tral staircase rose up out of the stately front
hall, wrapped around itself, and delivered
music to all corners of the second floor and
the third, too, for that matter, although we
didn’t use that top floor.
But there in New Jersey I stepped into
my mother’s piano world in a new and dif-
ferent way: I began taking lessons from her.
I mostly dreaded my lessons, which she
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Women’s Press March & April 2010
The Return to
College
By Kalila Volkov
When she was here
home, safe, just across the hall
my body felt like a flute;
the wind sailed through me
and I made music.
With her being gone
the notes are stuck inside
and I have no melody to play.
conducted just as she did with other pupils
unrelated to her, complete with bird stickers
for a piece well played and assignments for
the next week. But I found I loved to play,
and the special thrill of receiving my moth-
er’s compliments when I played well went a
long way toward relieving my resentment.
I played the flute, too, during those school
years, and the duets we played together gave
me a chance to be close to my mother at her
happiest.
Mom is eighty-five today and still teaches
in the old Victorian. Pupils step into the
front hall and seat themselves at her Stein-
way as Mom pulls up her chair beside them.
She has never advertised for pupils. They
come by word-of mouth.
Women’s Press March & April 2010
Even if a publisher accepts your work, you
will have to do most of the marketing your-
self.
In 1995, after hearing so many
excuses my personal fitness training cli-
ents were making for not doing their work-
outs, I started writing The Every Excuse in
the Book Book: How to Benefit from Exercis-
ing, by Overcoming Your Excuses. First the
120 excuses developed and later the means
to overcome those. Fourteen months later,
the book was finished and edited. Then, the
hard part: finding someone who believed in
my work as much as I did.
I spent two years with an enthusias-
tic literary agent who helped with some of
the legwork in finding a publisher. Unfor-
Local Perspectives 15
tember 2005 Excuses came to life with my
name on it. Since its release, I have been
fighting back by offering people my mark
of gold, and by selling more copies than the
“knock off.”
Now, 15 years after starting my
first book, I have written seven books and
published two—the newest being Success-
ful Dating at Last! A Workbook for Under-
standing Each Other, which offers women
the means to learn about themselves and the
people they date. Rather than cookie-cutter
advice on how to meet and keep a guy, Suc-
cessful Dating encourages women to figure
out what works best for themselves.
What I value most about my writ-
ing and publishing experiences is that I have

One Good Novel tunately, it took that long for me to realize

By Jeanne Murdock
As the saying goes, everyone has one good
novel in her. You may have a great idea for
a book or you just want to tell your story.
What sets most writers apart from successful
writers is the courage not only to write (and
finish!) the story, but also to publish it.
As far as writing the book, a mas-
ter plan and grandiose goal are not required.
Writing is a therapeutic outlet that helps
you to learn about yourself, communicate,
entertain others, and dump emotional bag-
gage. Writing is also an educational outlet
that requires you to research and become an
expert.
If you want to publish a book you must
answer the question: Why? You must know
what your ultimate goal is, how many peo-
ple you want to reach, and what you want
them to gain from reading your story.
When you are ready to publish, you will
seek a literary agent, find a publisher on your
own, or self-publish; each is a full-time job.
that he was a quack. By this time I had writ-
ten two more books, which he reviewed. The
good news is that in 1998 two of my books
came to life. The bad news is that they had
a different author’s name. My agent gave
my work to someone else who published the
information with a similar title. Fortunately,
I sent my books to the copyright office right
after mine were written.
After firing my agent, I knew that
I had to wage a war against these bad peo-
ple, my way. I self-published. Little by lit-
tle, I gathered clues to the mystery of how
to bring my book to life in such a way that
would appeal to readers and that would
comply with bookstores’ requirements. Sep-
inspired others to write and publish. I love
seeing the expression of pride and accom-
plishment on others’ faces.
Jeanne Murdock is the owner of BEANFIT,
a health and fitness consulting firm in Paso
Robles, CA. She is the author of The Every
Excuse in the Book Book: How to Benefit
from Exercising, by Overcoming Your Excuses
and Successful Dating at Last! A Workbook
for Understanding Each Other and host of
BEANFIT for Life on Charter Cable’s Ch. 2.
She can be reached through www.beanfit.com
or 805.226.9893.

It’s Time to Come Full Circle

By Adele Sommers, PhD and promising direction. If last year seemed create a vision of what we would like to see Keep in mind that this concept is not a
lackluster and lacking, this next year can be in our lives, businesses, or communities. goal, strategy, or plan, but an understand-
Early in the year is the perfect time to reflect fruitful and fabulous — all through the use Once we understand what we would like ing of what you can and can’t be the best at
on everything that we have achieved in pre- of our creative powers! the future to represent, we’re better able to doing — which is a great focal point for envi-
vious months, as well as what we aim to do take the actions needed to implement it. sioning the future!
in the days ahead. Techniques for Envisioning the Future Preferably, that future will resonate with our
This time of year also offers us the ideal passions, gifts, and what we (or our organi-
occasion to ask ourselves, “Have I learned Whether you want to predict the future zations) can really excel at doing. Adele Sommers, Ph.D. is a business perfor-
from my creative experiences in the prior or actually prescribe an outcome of your mance consultant who helps entrepreneurs align
year? Are there any discoveries I should choosing — it’s your choice! Either way, Try Doing What Hedgehogs Do their life passions with their business purpose.
review to better predict my results for 2010? you’ll have plenty of company. She also guides organizations through “tactical
What would help me identify a more power- Throughout history, we humans have Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, tune-ups” and “strategic makeovers” in indi-
ful plan of action?” tried many ways of predicting the future, coined the term “Hedgehog Concept” to vidual or group sessions. Contact her today for a
We can make an inspired effort to from reading palms to stargazing. Today, we describe a type of single-minded determina- free initial consultation at Adele@LearnShare-
address these issues, even if it uses time and refer to these as descriptive methods when tion. Similar to what the hedgehog animal Prosper.com, or 805.462.2199.
energy that we’d rather spend on something we attempt to describe objectively what the does, this phrase refers to someone focusing
else. We will therefore position ourselves to future will be or could be. on doing only one thing really well, such as
launch future projects with greater clarity Prescriptive methods, on the other hand, curling up and rolling. The implication is
and far fewer concerns or doubts. focus on determining what the future that until we develop a Hedgehog Concept
Fortunately, we have potent techniques should be. These techniques can help us for ourselves, we won’t truly understand our
at our disposal to help us envision a new clarify our preferences and values so we can own vision, mission, or purpose.
16 Local Perspectives Women’s Press March & April 2010

presents

A Monthly Series of Spiritual Workshops

Save the World

SLO Business Center • 4250 S. Higuera Street, Suite 600, San Luis Obispo
Third Thursday of Each Month • 7-9 pm • $20 suggested donation
Contact womenspress.slo@gmail.com or (805) 541-6874 for more information.

What book has changed your life?

Photo by Sanja Gjenero
Laurel White death, enlightenment—it’s racy and spiri-
A small town girl (me) meets Memoirs of a tual. Shoot, I think I’ll start reading it again
Geisha... what defines beauty? tonight; it’s been too long.

Berta Parrish Leslie St. John

Many books have influenced my life and
my outlook on life. In my thirties, coping
with the balancing act of career and family,
I read Gift from the Sea. At that time, this
little book, written by the author, activist,
and mother Anne Morrow Lindbergh, gave
me permission to take care of myself, so I
could take care of others. I followed Anne’s
example in seeking solitude, simplifying my
outward life, finding a central purpose, dis-
covering my inner strength, staying close to
nature, accepting change, and nourishing
valued relationships.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Jean Dom-
inique Bauby.
Jen Kaplan
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan:
really got me to change the way I purchase
food and how I feed my family. The Baby Book
by Dr. Sears: The only book I read where I
could relate to the way I was parenting - nur-
turing, responsive, attached. This book made
me realize it was OK to be a natural mother
and follow my instincts. Ina May’s Guide To
Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin: a book filled
March Workshop the connections between people that have
been lost due to strife and anxiety. She will
Peace Talks also share some useful tools and insights for
“When there is peace in the household... there regaining peace in our relationships with
can be peace in the world.” Chinese proverb others and self. Come prepared for an hon-
est, intimate conversation with yourself and
Following the success of last year’s Peace neighbors. All are welcome.
Talk led by Dr. Tobey Crockett at the Joslyn

Angie King
with birth stories from “The Farm” in Tennes-
see. Made me realize how natural, normal, and
Center fund raiser for the Creativity Club of
Cambria, we recognized that there is a thirst
April Workshop
I don’t know if it changed my life, but it cer- healthy birth is supposed to be. Not at all what for practical hands on ways to talk about
tainly has had an impact, and that’s Mary our mainstream media and society portrays. peace in our county. Joining Dr. Crockett One life to live.
Daly’s Beyond God the Father: Toward a Philos- This book was inspiring and filled me with are experienced peace builders Karin (AKA In this workshop we will discuss our story
ophy of Women’s Liberation. published in 1973. confidence in my body. Grandmother Bridgeweaver) Leonard and based on what others wanted us to do as if
The 70’s were a heady time in general, and Jennifer Star. we were in a box. We will explore and dis-
she was a leader, acting on her principles and Linda Stein Dr. Crockett will lead and moderate the cover more of what you wish you could do
getting fired from Boston College in the pro- Life and Death in Shanghai, by Nien Cheng, event which will consist of a seminar style by getting out of the box. Experience how it
cess. She is/was (she just died this January) not published 1987. discussion that addresses both general and feels: to stay in the box, and then how to get
afraid to say what we all felt. Check her out. specific difficulties we encounter in our out of the box. I’ll lead a guided meditation
Ali Rush Carscaden, 15 degrees Celsius owner daily lives, including brass tacks methods to help you discover your story. We’ll play
Kathey Railsback I have to say although I wish it was some by which we may all contribute to the weav- with the impressions from the meditation
The Joy of Sex. inspirational women’s business story or ing of a better social fabric. Jennifer Star, and then put it on paper, what it feels like
something... really the Omnivore’s Dilemma founder and director of the Peace Pie Man- to write your new story as if this was the last
Melanie Senn by Michael Pollan or Anthony Bourdaine’s dala Project (www.peacemandala.com ), will year that you have to live. What will you let
Maybe the book that most changed my life Kitchen Confidential. Restaurant biz, ya speak of her experience of knowing peace in go of and what will you do more of?
is Somerset Maugham’s The Razor’s Edge. know. her heart through a relationship with creativ-
I’ve read it cover to cover several times and ity and the arts, and offer tools for exploring MaryAine Curtis is an Emissary of JOY!
it always blows me away. It was published Next month our Voices around the Table this heart-centered peace both in and outside As well as a Spiritual Counselor, teacher and
in 1944, but it’s contemporary, if you know question is: With new predictions showing that of the art studio. Karin Leonard, commu- Inner Transformation Coach. Her website is
what I mean. The first 20 pages or so are by mid-year, women will have surpassed men nity mediator and student exchange coun- www.return2joy.com
boring, but the rest—the rest! Marriage, in the workforce, what are your reactions? selor, is always looking at how to rebuild
Women’s Press March & April 2010
Outside the Port
By Tricia Wolanin
Far away from the cruise ship ports of Mon-
tego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios, lies a land
that tourists generally do not venture to.
Ironically, this city happens to be the capi-
tal of the country. When I began reading
up on Kingston, the guidebooks attempt to
instill a sense of fear. If beaches are subpar,
high crime rates exist, and minimal tourist
spots are available, why would anyone go to
Kingston? I asked myself this question when
my friend Amanda encouraged me to book a
holiday there with her.
Driving outside of New Kingston and
surrounding suburbs, pockets of dilapidated
shacks line the streets. Some are painted
with traditional greens and yellows, oth-
ers are solely remnants of aluminum. Sepia
The Fruit of Service
By Kathy Bond
“The fruit of service is peace.”
—Mother Teresa
On New Year’s Day, I listed ways we’d
observed Angie’s memory since her death
last April. She taught for years, so we gave
money for education to the Diocese of West-
ern Tanganyika in November. When the
American Association of University Women
called in December, we gave to them.
At the December Habitat Houses Dedi-
cation, Tutti the clown asked if I wanted to
join her ranks. Taking a few weeks to think
about it, I remembered Angie had “clowned”
video footage of Bob Marley’s Trenchtown
days observed at the legend’s museum ear-
lier in the trip, somehow still portray these
current shantytowns. The heart and birth of
reggae is apparent here.
We spend Ash Wednesday in Jamaica,
which is a national holiday. Although a
majority of the citizens are religious, not
everyone practices. Therefore, the day con-
sists of pure play and relaxation. We are
lucky enough to go to Fort Clarence beach
with some locals. Our hosts, Kathy and
Garth, are both multiracial individuals of
Jamaican and Chinese descent. Kathy is
proud of her heritage, and quickly notes the
growing population of Chinese Jamaicans
“finally made Wikipedia.”
Rastafarian music quietly plays in the
background on a family’s stereo. The light
and decided to join the greasepaint-and-
funny-clothes gang.
I donated calligraphy earnings to Hos-
pice, who helped make life bearable and eas-
ier in many ways.
We considered giving an oil stock, used
to anoint the sick, to Angie’s parish of St.
Mark’s, in her memory.
And I donated a braid of my hair to
Locks of Love.
These gifts helped abate my grief. We’d
survived the markers of Angie’s August
birthday, the sixth-month anniversary of her
death, and the holidays—which she loved.
The first Sunday after Christmas, I sat
in the soprano section’s front row, fac-
ing the congregation. I felt fine until the
Prayers of the People, when we prayed for
blue water glistens under the 80-degree sun.
We take our towels, bottled waters, and
plantain chips and find a perfect shady spot
under a tree. The trees branches hang low,
which seem to fit many families comfortably
at different angles.
We order our lunches early, due to
the amount of time it takes to prepare the
meal and the growing crowd. Garth takes
Amanda and I to the restaurant shack,
which has no name, sign, or menu. Garth
informs us to make our selections, but we
entrust him to choose the fresh seafood
caught earlier that day. Garth is not pleased
with the initial variety of fish that lay before
him. He specifically wants beautiful blue
parrot fish, which were unavailable. Garth
sifts through additional stock lying in make-
shift water coolers behind the shack, order-
the departed. I lost it. I remembered that
last January, Angie’s oncologist told us our
daughter needed help. My tears flowed at the
communion rail. Jeremy held my hand and
put his arm around me.
I looked for a knitting project to help me
relax; I’d outfitted the world scarf-wise. I’d
tried to use scrap yarns several times—with
no success. Knitting a cap before Christmas,
I ran out of bouclé yarn and finished with
leftover eyelash. I remembered the hat. So, I
had fun creating funky caps in various colors
and textures. Then I had an epiphany. Could
my warm, soft, wild-colored, hats help can-
cer patients who’d lost their hair feel better?
Angie loved clothes and color. I remem-
ber bringing her a bag of hats and caps the
first time she had chemo. At January 6th’s
Local Perspectives 17
Photo by Bryn Jones
ing only parrot fish and lobster.
After at least two hours of playing in the
Caribbean waters and sprawling in the sand,
our feast is ready. Two lobsters, five fried
parrot fish, and steamed curry fish lay before
us on paper plates. The accompanying sides
consist of standard festival (fried dough,
similar to Italian zeppos minus the pow-
dered sugar) and cassava (yucca). This meal
was the edible highlight of the trip.
The day at Fort Clarence beach certainly
exceeded any preconceived notions of Kings-
ton that existed within me. My cousin will
soon be taking her honeymoon to Montego
Bay this summer. I will definitely nudge her
to go outside the boundaries of their all-
inclusive resort and prepaid adventure trips
to see what Jamaica really has to offer.
Epiphany Service, I showed them to a can-
cer survivor. She liked them, and picked one
with raspberry ‘bling” for her mother-in-law,
due to start treatment.
Our rector blessed them. Next, I took
them to a doctor’s office. His receptionist
had just finished chemo. She picked a yel-
low one with multi-colored ball fringe. I
never thought of knitting a way out of grief,
but small gifts of love often give more to the
giver than the recipient. I sailed through
next Sunday’s service.
People call me wonderful to make the
caps, but it eases the pain of loss and helps
me heal. To quote Mother Teresa:
“The fruit of service is peace.” And
I agree.
18 Local Perspectives Women’s Press March & April 2010

Nurturing Your Muse Clare Lowery L.Ac.

Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine
Photo by Muris Kuloglija Kula
Licensed for 20 Years

Shirodhara oil treatment

805-541-6772
ClareLowery.com

By Jeanne Greensfelder Now Gilbert shouts Olé after she and her
Muse have a successful collaboration. She
It’s spring! Time to nurture energy and also believes we deserve Olé for just showing
imagination for new projects. To add fun, up and working.
get acquainted with your Muse. When I first To nurture your muse, you might ask her
learned of Muses, the nine Greek sister god- name and get to know what she likes: flow-
desses who inspire creativity, I wanted one, ers, candles, silence, music, or a bustling café
but thought they only visited brilliant peo- atmosphere. Try a meditative conversation
ple. with her, describing what you need. Once
Of course, we can all cultivate and access she’s activated on a venture, new ideas could
our Muse. For instance, Isabelle Allende has pop into your brain day or night. Carry pen-
rituals that she follows. Annually, she starts cil and paper. Inviting and writing dreams
a new book on the day she began a letter can be very productive.
to her dying grandfather because that letter Muses enjoy being invoked and appreci-
turned into her first novel, House of Spirits. ated. They also like to a-muse, so have fun!
Each January 8th she provides flowers
and lights candles for her Muses and medi-
tates. At a computer she writes her first line
in a kind of trance as if someone else were
writing it through her. Using that line as
an opening to explore new worlds, she lets
a story unfold and delights in the surprises
that arrive. She waits until her first draft is
complete before switching to left brain edit-
ing.
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Love
and Pray discusses the history of muses
and genies in one of the recent TED talks
(www.ted.com). In order to access her muse,
Gilbert shows up and, like a mule, works.
By doing her part the creative spirit is more
likely to arrive.
Gilbert described the poet Ruth Stone
who would be working in the field when a
poem barreled in from above. Stone’s job
was to run into the house and write it down
before the poem gave up on her and went to
find another poet.
The Moors chanted Allah and praised God
when they observed a transcendent performance.
In Spain, the name Allah morphed to Olé, a
shout for an outstanding moment during a fla-
menco dance, a bullfight, or other achievement.
Women’s Press March & April 2010
This Page Presented by the
The purpose of NOW is to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society NOW !
Coordinator’s Corner
By Angie King
For those of you who missed our annual
Roe v Wade event, you should’a been there!
I know the weather was predicted foul
(although it was merely cold, not rainy). I
hope it was not complacency with how well-
protected you feel our rights are that let you
stay home. I have to tell you, our rights are
in just as much danger now as under Bush.
Hilda Zacarias led a lively discussion of the
current (as of then) health care reform bill,
especially as those reforms affect women’s
access to reproductive health care. Since it
appears the bill has stalled, there may now
be time to undo those pernicious amend-
ments preventing women from access to
abortions – even using their own money.
The more people who tell their Congress
member how private insurance company
greed and negligence has impacted their
own family’s life and health, perhaps the
better they will heed our call to curb insur-
ers. The evening closed with a tribute to
those women who died from not having
access to appropriate medical care and the
workers who have been killed in the line of
service to women in health clinics. It was a
well-attended, moving evening. Thank you
to Health Care for All and Hilda Zacarias
for contributing to its success.
Events coming up include a display at
the SLO public library this month to com-
memorate Women’s History Month, partici-
pation with SARP in their “Walk a Mile in
their Shoes” event in April to raise awareness
about sexual assaults, and a special event in
June about Title IX.
You may have heard that the Cuesta Col-
lege women’s tennis team was eliminated
this year due to budget cuts. That action
ran afoul of the requirement of federal law
that opportunities for participation in sports
must be proportionate to the enrollment at
the school. Eliminating one women’s team
wholesale cuts that proportion below what
is allowed. As a result, a Title IX federal
complaint has been filed against Cuesta.
The local chapter of NOW thinks this is an
important issue that merits more coverage
than just one article in the paper and a com-
ment by the acting Cuesta College president
that they will not be having a public meet-
ing about it. Well, if they won’t, NOW will!
We plan to hold a public discussion on this
topic, probably in June. Stay tuned.
National Organization for Women
Another year another war: Yes, it’s March
again and the beginning of year 8 of the
Afghan/Iraq wars. Women soldiers are in
a double bind: not only are they under fire
from insurgent forces, they are under attack
from their own “buddies.” Women report
sexual assaults inside the front line bases,
sexual harassment by superior officers, bla-
tant discrimination in work assignments,
and higher levels of PTSD on their return,
with fewer medical options than the men.
When will it stop? When we all get out
in the streets and demand it? Do you not
remember Vietnam?
Early political riff: Bill O’Reilly had a
column at end of last year commenting on
the access to the Obama White House com-
pared to the Bush years, and of course, he
was disparaging about the types and fre-
quencies of visitors to Obama. It’s almost a
badge of honor, at least according to Keith
Olberman, to be dissed by Bill O’Reilly, so I
take it as a matter of pride that the president
of NOW, Kim Gandy, was one of the most
frequent visitors mentioned.
And on another note, Mother Jones
had a piece on how the GOP is trying to
court younger voters, using social network-
ing. Despite their use of new communica-
tion channels, it doesn’t change the GOP
positions on social issues. The article men-
tioned “social justice, tolerance and peace
in society,” but specifically ruled out abor-
tion access or gay marriage. The number
that grabbed me, though, was that in 2020
there will be 90 million new just-turned-18
years old first time voters for a presidential
election, and they will comprise 39% of the
potential electorate. That’s a formidable vot-
ing bloc – if young people can be said to be
of one mind, which I don’t think they are.
However, I do think younger voters are
more likely to be more tolerant and sup-
port social justice. Aren’t those universal val-
ues? The question is for whom and to whom
and that’s where I think new voters will part
ways with the GOP. But they are an impor-
tant demographic that we need to make sure
understand our “herstory” and the conse-
quences of forgetting the past.
You can tell it’s spring; the “action” sap
is beginning to rise in my blood. Won’t you
join me in taking action?
NOW News 19
Calendar April 20: NOW regular meeting, 6 PM
April 22: Take Your Daughter to Work Day
April 25: Colorado, 1st state to liberalize
March is Women’s History Month
abortion laws, 1967
April 25: Earth Day
March 3: Harriet Tubman (operated Under-
April 25: March for Gay/Lesbian Rights, 1993
ground Railroad) died, 1913
April 28: Equal Pay Day
March 4: Jeannette Rankin becomes 1st US
Congresswoman, 1917
March 8: International Women’s Day NOW Goals
March 12: Juliette Low founds Girl Scouts, 1912 • Support reproductive choice
March 15: birthday of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, 1933 • Work to eliminate all violence against
March 16: NOW regular meeting, 6 PM women
• Fight against sexual harassment
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month • Encourage tolerance and diversity
• Promote feminist issues
April 7: birthday of Billie Holiday, 1915 • Commemorate Roe v Wade (Jan 22)
April 9: March for Women’s Lives to sup- • Celebrate Women’s Equality Day
port abortion rights, 1992 (Aug 26)
April 10: birthday of Dolores Huerta, 1930 • Participate in Farmer’s Market
April 18: Women’s World Fair, Chicago, 1925 • Support feminist politics
NOW Chapter # CA 565
PO Box 1306, SLO, CA 93406
SLONOW @ kcbx.net
http://groups.myspace.com/~slonow
General Meetings
1060 Palm St., SLO
3rd Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm
Get Involved — Join NOW!
San Luis Obispo Chapter
National Organization for Women
Every woman doesn’t have to join NOW,
just the 142 million who are discriminated against!
Name: _ ______________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________
City/St/ZIP: ___________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________
Regular Dues ….$40, Sliding Scale…..$15-39
Send your check and this form to Amount enclosed: _______
_ _____
PO Box 1306
SLO, CA 93406
Chapter # CA 565
slonow@kcbx.net
20 NOW News
NOW History Lesson
By Angie King
National NOW encourages each chapter to
review the history and workings of the orga-
nization with their membership every year.
We have usually used the March issue of the
Women’s Press to outline how NOW works
because that’s Women’s History Month.
Briefly, there is a national membership orga-
nization that takes action in the political
arena to bring women into the mainstream
of American society, as our mission state-
ment declares. These local grass root chap-
ters decide national policy at an annual
convention, and the executive board car-
ries out those policy directives. NOW also
has a political arm, the NOWPAC, which
endorses candidates at the national level,
and a Foundation, that engages in educa-
tional tax-exempt activities, such as Take
Your Daughter to Work Day (see article this
issue) and Love Your Body Day (in Octo-
ber), among others.
In California, local chapters are also
members of a state wide organization with
a parallel structure: there is a membership
association, which takes action at the state
level based on policy directives agreed upon
at a state convention; a PAC which endorses
candidates at the state level; and a Founda-
tion, which carries out tax-exempt activities.
Membership is open to women and men
who agree with the mission: to bring women
into the mainstream of American society
NOW, with equal privileges and responsibil-
ities as men.
NOW is a relatively new organization.
The first meetings were in Washington DC
in 1966 as a result of President John Kenne-
dy’s call for a Commission on the status of
women. That Commission (still in existence
despite the best efforts of Republicans to kill
it) remains an advisory body to the President
on issues important to women. However, it
does not take any action, which led some of
the initial Commission members to break
away and form NOW as a more overtly
political action organization.
Women’s issues have been around, how-
ever, far longer than the 1960’s. In 1848 Eliz-
abeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
convened a women’s rights convention to
demand some of the most basic equality
tenets we now possess: the right of women
to work, and to keep our earnings, and the
right to be educated. While there were some
calls for the vote, it was considered too radi-
cal at the time.
By the turn of the 20th century, how-
ever, that time had come, and Suffragists
took political action to secure the vote for
women, including hunger strikes, chain-
ing themselves to the White House fence,
and marching with placards denouncing the
President for failing to take action on their
demands.
When the 19th Amendment finally
passed in 1920, women took to public life
in great numbers. They ran for and won
political office, they voted in legislators
who vowed to curb child labor and reform
oppressive factory working conditions,
among other social justice reforms.
And they became a political force with
the creation of the League of Women Vot-
ers. As we were reminded just last month,
February marked the 90th birthday of the
founding of the LWV (established in 1920).
Cribbing liberally from Julie Lynem’s Tri-
bune article on the League, we learn that
the League was the driving force behind the
passage of the social justice reforms men-
tioned above. The League studies issues and
comes to a consensus on a position, which
they then advocate before legislative bodies.
That makes them “equally opportunity dis-
liked,” quoting a local SLO League mem-
ber, because they do not always say what a
politician wants to hear. The LWV does not
endorse candidates for office, but it does grill
them on their positions on League issues.
In the article, members of the local
League chapter, formed in the 1960’s, were
asked for advice for the younger generation.
Uniformly, they urged people to vote and be
informed about their vote, to make that vote
count. She says become a better citizen by
listening to both sides of an argument and
think about your own response. “It’s easy
to turn on the TV or computer and make a
decision based on a 30-second sound bite or
blog posting.”
Sage advice. I would add only, once you
have developed a position, join NOW and
do something about it!
Another Black Woman Rises to the Top
An historic event occurred during Black
History Month—a black woman was
appointed to lead the California National
Guard. Brig. Gen. Mary Kight is the first
black woman to head the National Guard in
any state, and is the first woman to lead the
21,000 members of California’s Army and
Air National Guard.
Kight was sworn in by Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger at a former Air Force base
outside Sacramento. Speaking during a
change-of-command ceremony at the Cali-
fornia National Guard Mather Flight Facil-
ity, the Republican governor called Kight a
pioneer for breaking gender and racial bar-
riers during her long career. She is the state’s
45th adjutant general, assuming command
from Gen. William Wade, who is leaving
to help command a North Atlantic Treaty
Organization force in Italy. She is a brigadier
general and was the second in command,
before being promoted. The position is sub-
ject to confirmation by the state Senate and
pays $180,201 a year. Kight is a Republican.
Here’s an Easy Action! - Take Your Daughters to Work Day
April 22, 2010
Traditionally, the fourth Thursday in April
(coincidentally, around the same date as
Equal Pay Day) has been marked as a spe-
cial opportunity for parents (aimed initially
at women when the event premiered in the
1970’s and now expanded to include fathers)
to take their daughters to work with them
for the day (now expanded to include sons).
Whatever your job might be, let your child
shadow you for the day to see what you do
and help them see how many career options
are available to them. If your job does not
permit “visitors,” arrange with someone to
show your child the “ropes” at their work.
This is not just touchy feely stuff about
putting a human face on how our society’s
wheels turn each day. The importance in
exposing girls, and boys, to different sorts of
people and tasks at an early age sparks cre-
ativity and enthusiasm and gives them the
confidence to know they can try new things,
maybe even a career they may not have oth-
erwise been aware of. More girls interested
in how things work means more future engi-
neers, for example, which means more peo-
ple working out ways to live together. As a
nation, we cannot afford to waste the talents
of over half the population.
Women’s Press March & April 2010
“I’m extremely proud,” she said after the
ceremony. “I also feel responsible, however,
to those that look to me because I happen to
be of female gender or African-American.”
Kight, 59, said she is part Filipino and Span-
ish on her mother’s side. “There’s a little bit
of everything in me. And whatever I repre-
sent to people, if it makes them proud, I’m
proud,” she said.
Kight was born in Monterey in 1950, the
daughter of a cook and a hotel housekeeper.
She earned a degree at Monterey Peninsula
College in 1970, then continued her educa-
tion at Chico State University. Kight mar-
ried her college sweetheart, Brad Kight, then
joined the Air Force and then the National
Guard, where she has spent nearly 25 years.
State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, who
was the first black woman to head a state
legislative body, praised Kight for providing
inspiration to those who will follow. “Today
is a very exciting day in history,” said Bass, a
Democrat from Los Angeles.
And, more importantly, it shows fathers
what their girls are capable of and may even
make them think twice about their beliefs
about women and girls.
A Yale University study analyzed legisla-
tors’ votes on key issues, tallied against the
number of girls each had, and found a posi-
tive correlation between the number of girls
and the legislator’s position on issues affect-
ing women. This correlation held true on
both sides of the political aisle. The so-called
“daughter gap” was strongest when the male
legislators voted on issues specifically related
to abortion and contraception.
It’s interesting that the campaign to nur-
ture and develop the talents of girls is set
in late April, as that is also the day which,
usually, the earnings of women for the prior
year catch up to those of men, called Equal
Pay Day, because it takes us an extra four
months or so to earn as much as men do
in twelve. Hopefully, “Take your Daughter
to Work Day” will eventually eliminate the
need for an “Equal Pay Day,” as the inequi-
ties of income discrimination based on gen-
der diminish, because more and more young
women moved into highly paid career areas
as a result of watching their mothers and
fathers at work as a child.
Women’s Press March & April 2010 Bulletins 21
Local Art Grows in Garden Being Woven: Pine Needle Basketry Class
Show runs March 19th- April 16th Saturday, March 13 9:30AM – 2:30PM
Opening Reception Friday, March 19th Pre-registration required by March 10
4:00-7:30 p.m. (space limited) Where to find Women’s Press
$60.00 class fee (due at registration) All Libraries and the following exceptionally fine establishments!
The San Luis Obispo Botanical proudly $15.00 materials fee (due at class)
presents Connections with Nature: Eco- • NORTH COUNTY: Atascadero – The Coffee House and Deli, Starbuck’s at Von’s
Art in the Garden co-sponsored by Frame Community member and talented art- Plaza, Green Goods, Player’s Pizza, Harvest Health Food Store, North County
Works. Curator Sara Egerer has selected ist Elizabeth Bear will teach the basic tech- Connection, Senior Center, Women’s Resource Center/Shelter Office, Curves. Paso
artwork made of various reclaimed mate- niques of beginning and building a pine Robles – Cuesta College North Campus, Café Vio, Curves, DK Donuts, Panolivo
rials, featuring work by Jack Biesek, Carol needle basket. The class will include impor-
French Cafe, NCI Village Thrift Shop, Paso Robles Health Foods; Templeton – Twin
Paulsen, Stephen Plowman, Larry Le Brane, tant tips on how to collect local pine nee-
and other local artists. dles, the different varieties of needles, their Cities Hospital, Templeton Market & Deli, Affinity Chiropractic, Kinship Center,
Explore sculpture in the beautiful natural proper preparation and storage. During this Jobella’s Coffee; Santa Margarita– Santa Margarita Mercantile.
setting of the Preview Garden and Oak Glen creative and fun class, you will begin and • NORTHERN COAST: Baywood – Coffee & Things; Cambria – Cambria
Pavilion during the Opening Reception on shape a basket of your own design as well as Connection, Cambria Pines Lodge, Chamber of Commerce, Gym One, Azevedo
Friday, March 19th from 4:00-7:30 p.m. learn how to preserve your work of art for Chiropractic, Lilly’s, Alloco’s, Cambria Drug and Gift, Bob & Jan’s Bottle Shop,
Meet the artists and enjoy nature, art, wine, many years to come.
light refreshments, docent tours, a scavenger Please bring a pair of scissors, a bag lunch Linn’s, Donna’s Nail Salon, Cookie Crock, Rainbow Bean and Coffee Shop;
hunt, and children’s activities. and your creative energy to this exciting Cayucos – Cayucos Super Market, Kelley’s EsPresso & Dessert, Ocean Front Pizza,
To make reservations please call SLOBG workshop. Chevron Station, Mobile Balloons; Los Osos – Starbuck’s, Baywood Laundry, Cad’s,
(805) 541-1400 ext. 305. $10 General Dona- Carlock’s Bakery, Chamber of Commerce, Copa de Oro, Garden Café, Los Osos
tion, $8 SLOBG Members, entry is free for Deli Liquor, Volumes of Pleasure; Morro Bay – Backstage Salon, Coalesce Bookstore,
children and those who purchase a SLOBG Make Your Own Mala Prayer Bracelet
Coffee Pot Restaurant, The Rock, Southern Port Traders, Sunshine Health Foods,
Membership. Guests may also pay at the Thursday, March 23 6:30PM – 8:30PM
door. Show runs through April 16th. Two Dogs Coffee, La Parisienne Bakery.
Pre-registration required $25.00 • SAN LUIS OBISPO: Broad St. Laundry, Cool Cats Café, La Crepes, Edna Market,
Come enjoy a creative evening in commu- Booboo Records, Creekside Center, GALA, Marigold Nails, Palm Theatre, Susan
Donate Your Used Cell Phones, nity with others on the spiritual path.The Polk Insurance, Utopia Bakery, Unity Church, Zoe Wells, Naturopath, Cal Poly
Ink Cartriges and More evening begins with a short meditation, a Library and Women’s Center, Center for Alternatives to Violence, Chamber of
Save on Taxes. Help the Women’s Commu- teaching and ritual to help prepare the art- Commerce, Cuesta College Library, EOC Health Services Clinic, HealthWorks,
nity Center Protect the Environment. ist within to choose beads and string them Healing Alternatives, Laguna Laundry, Linnaea’s, Monterey Express, Natural Foods
The Women‘s Community Center is con- heartfully together. The class presents a won-
Coop, New Frontiers, Nautical Bean, Outspoken Beverage Bistro, Phoenix Books,
ducting a recycling fundraiser. There’s noth- derful opportunity to invite a friend to share
ing to buy. We are simply asking you to in the experience of community. All neces- Planned Parenthood, West End Espresso & Tea, San Luis Obispo Housing Authority
protect the environment by donating your sary materials are supplied. Office, SARP, The Secret Garden, SLO Perk Coffee, Spirit Winds Therapy, The
used consumer electronics and unwanted, Energy balancing sessions free of charge Studio Fitness for Women, Uptown Cafe, Yoga Centre, Ahshe Hair Salon, Apropos
broken or mismatched jewelry. Your used in San Luis Obispo Clothing, Soho Hair Salon, Hempshak, YMCA, KCBX, Salon on Monterey, Jaffa
item(s) may be tax deductible and will be Café, Med Stop (Madonna Plaza), World Rhythm and Motion, Steynberg Gallery,
recycled in accordance with EPA regula-
tions. 100% of the proceeds will help fund Free Energy Balancing Sessions Correa Chiropractic, High St. Deli, Sunset N. Car Wash, Jamaica You, United
The Women’s Community Center. Blood Services.
The Global Alliance for Balance and Heal-
We are currently collecting the follow- ing is offering free energy balancing ses- • SOUTH COUNTY: Arroyo Grande – Mongo’s, Act II Boutique, Central Coast
ing items: working or not / damaged or not: sions on Saturday, March 20 from 11:00am Yoga, CJ’s Restaurant, Curves-AG, Cutting Edge, EOC Health Services Clinic, Girls
Cell phones - laptop computers - ink car- to 4:00pm. Restaurant, Grande Whole Foods, Chameleon; Avila Beach– Avila Grocery, Custom
tridges - MP3 players - digital cameras - dig- The free clinic will be held at Sierra Vista House, Sycamore Hot Springs, Inn at Avila, Joe Mamma’s; Grover Beach – Back
ital video cameras - handheld game systems Hospital in the Auditorium, 1010 Murray
- GPS devices - radar detectors - electronic Door Deli, Cindi’s Wash House, Nan’s Pre-owned Books, Therapeutic Body Center,
Avenue, San Luis Obispo. Parking is best in
book readers - gold, silver & platinum. 30-minute Fitness; Halcyon – Halcyon Store; Nipomo – Anna’s Creekside Coffee
the outpatient parking lot (on the west side
Please drop off any items you would like and then go through the second entrance House, Healing Touch Spa, Curves, La Placita Market, Healthy Inspirations, World
to recycle at: sliding glass doors). Once you enter the Gym, Trendy Sister Salon, Senior Centers; Pismo Beach – Honeymoon Café, Pismo
doors, turn right and then left into the audi- Athletic Club, RETurn to JOY!; Shell Beach – De Palo & Sons Deli, Seaside Cafe,
The Women’s Community Center torium. Sessions are 25 minutes in duration
4251 S Higuera Street Steaming Bean.
and no appointment is necessary. All are • SANTA MARIA: Café Monet, Hunter’s Landing, Library, Curves on Main and on
Building 800 Suite 15, welcome.
San Luis Obispo, Visit www.globalalliance.ws or call Broadway, Lassen’s.
or call Robin at 805-801-3235. 805-438-4347 to learn about energy balanc- • ORCUTT: Loading Dock, Oasis Spa.
ing or other offerings from the Global Alli-
We greatly appreciate your support! ance for Balance and Healing.
22 Resources
SCREEN
Continued from page 3
since we have closed off our emotional side.
Intellectually, we justify living half a life.
If we had allowed our childhood feelings
of hurt to pass after we felt them and cried
and raged, life would naturally carry us to a
new level of clarity. We would live flexibly,
allowing feelings to come and to pass. We
would trust our experience and go with it,
saying, “Yes” to whatever comes. We would
focus on the present moment and the next
present moment and the next. We would
release the past and attend expectantly and
courageously to the now.
Then our screen would be one of abun-
dance. We would know that feelings heal,
so we wouldn’t fear feeling anything. We
would know that there is no part of our-
selves we need to cut off. We would move
CESAREAN
Continued from page 11
ean” policy fit into this picture? How can
a woman be an informed consumer when
choosing between the risks of having a
repeat cesarean versus the risks of trying for
a vaginal birth after a cesarean if doctors are point. For some women it will start at week
keeping the facts about the risks from us?
So if someone is recommending to you
to schedule an induction simply because
you are at week 40, basically picking a day
for your baby’s birth by signing up for a
trip to the Operating Room, don’t make
your decision lightly because your life may
depend on the decision you make. Consider
first: Do you have any other indications that
your health or your baby’s health needs you
to take this risky step? Is your blood pres- Jennifer Stover
sure too high? Is your baby no longer grow- 473-3746
ing or showing other clear signs of being in www.slolaboroflovedoula.blogspot.com
ABUSE
Adults Molested as Children Support
through life whole. With our integrity and Group (AMAC) Rape Survivors Support
Group, SLO
our lack of fear, we would experience free- Support Group for Sexual Assault
dom which only comes to our Adult. Survivors
Wholeness and freedom await each of us. 545.8888
No one is denied a fullness of Spirit due to Center for Alternatives to Domestic
early wounds. The choice is entirely ours. Violence
All that’s required is saying “Yes” to this sec- 781.6406
ond and “Yes” and “Yes.” Regardless of what North County Women’s Shelter &
happened to us in the past, no one curtails Resource Center,
our life today except us. And that’s a choice (inc. domestic violence support groups) Social Services
we make minute by minute. 461.1338
SARP (Sexual Assault Recovery &
Prevention)
Ruth Cherry, PhD, is a clinical psychologist 545.8888 or 800.656.HOPE (4673)
in private practice in San Luis Obispo, CA. Women’s Shelter Program of SLO
Her specialty is midlife when psychological and 781.6401 www.womensshelterslo.org
spiritual dynamics merge. Her five books and ADDICTIONS
guided meditation CD are available at her AA Meeting
web sites, midlifepsychology.com and God-Life- 541.3211
You.com and meditationintro.com. Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)
498.2176
Al-Anon
534.9204
Cambria Connection (12 step support)
927.1654
Casa Solana
distress? Women will often be frightened by Women’s Recovery Home 481.8555
stories of healthy placentas magically turn- Chemical Dependency intensive
ing into degrading placentas the moment outpatient program
they are at 40 weeks plus 1 day. Yes, all pla- 541-9113
centas will begin to break down at some Compulsive Eaters Anonymous, H.O.W.
Concept
38 and for others at week 43. The only way to 546.1178 www.ceahow.org
Drug & Alcohol Services
know about your placenta is to monitor the
health of your baby through nonstress tests 781.4275
Narcotics Anonymous
and ultrasound. Remember there are times
when the very best choice for you and your 549.7730 and 800.549.7730
Overeaters Anonymous
baby is an induction or cesarean surgery, but
only if there are clear indications of current 541.3164
SCA, SLAA & SAA (Sex, Love & Romance
risk. Addictions)
461.6084
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)
929.1789 www.tops.org
Women for Sobriety
215.536.8026 www.womenforsobriety.org 927.3703
CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Birth and Baby Resource Center
546.3755 www.bbrn.org
Childcare Resource Connection
541.2272 or 800.727.2272
Court Appointed Special Advocates
(CASA)
“A child’s voice in Court in SLO County” Safe and Sober Support Group
541.6542
Children’s Services Network
781.1847
First 5: Children & Families
Commission
781.4058; ask for Susan Hughs
Homeschooling in SLO County (HSC)
462.0726; ask for Barbara
Women’s Press March & April 2010
La Clinica De Tolosa 238.5334
La Leche League
489.9128
Migrant Childcare Program
544.4355 and 466.3444
MOMS Club of South SLO county
473.2548; www.southslomomsclub.org
Partnership for Children
541.8666; ask for Beth
Real F.A.C.T.S. (Forum on Abused
Children)
460.9016
781.1600
Support for Kids Coping with
Domestic Violence
473.6507
EMERGENCY/CRISIS
Hotline
www.slohotline.org 800.549.8989
Sexual & Rape Prevention (SARP)
545.8888 or 800.656.HOPE (4673)
Temporary Restraining Order
& Victim Witness
Program 781.5821
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
A.D.A.P.T. (Aid in Divorce Adjustment
Problems Today)
543.0388
Alzheimer/Dementia Resource Center
800.443.1236
Alzheimer’s Association
547.3830
CALL–Concerned Agoraphobics
Learning to Live
543.3764
Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA)
542.0577 (SLO), 927.1654 (Cambria),
466.8600 (North County)
Community Counseling Center
543.7969
Creative Mediation
549.0442
Dealing With Divorce
544.9313
Depresson and Bipolar Support
Alliance Group
Divorce Discussion Group
489.2990, saintbarnabas@sbcglobal.net
Eating Disorders Support Group
546-3774; free, meets weekly in SLO
Grief Drop-In Support Groups
544.2266, multiple meetings avail.
Project Lifesaver
548.0909 www.projectlifesaverofslo.org
473.6507
St. Barnabas (Depression/Divorce/
Grief)
489.2990 www.stbarnabas.ag.org
Talk/Listen - Emotional support
489.5481
Transformations Counseling Center
Free monthly workshops 541.7908
Women’s Press March & April 2010
FINANCE/BUSINESS MEDICAL SUPPORT/SERVICES
Consumer Credit Counseling Services ALS Support Group (Lou Gehrig’s
800.540.2227 Disease)
227.4785 or 674.4162
GAY & LESBIAN Alzheimer’s Support
Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the 547.3830, 534.9234 (SLO/Los Osos)
Central Coast 888.488.6555
541.4252 American Cancer Society
PFLAG.Parents & Friends of Lesbians & San Luis Obispo 543.1481, 238.9657
Gays
Templeton 434.3051
438.3889 Anorexia Nervosa & Bulimia Support
SOL (Single Older Lesbians) Group
Mostly socializing! Call 474.9405
541.9113
Arthritis Foundation
HOSPICE
Hospice of SLO County, AIDS 892.5556
Bereavement Group Cancer/ Breast Cancer Support Groups READERS/WRITERS
543.1481 ext. 3 for information
544.2266 and 434.1164
Hospice Partners of the Central Coast Caregivers of Aging Parents
782.8608 543.7969
Celiac Disease Support Group
JOBS/CAREERS 226.9893
AARP Endometriosis Association
788.2643 www.endometriosisassn.org
Cal Poly Foundation Enhancement, Inc. (for breast cancer
Jobline 756.7107 www. survivors)
calpolyfoundation.org 771.8640 www.enhancementinc.com
Cal Poly University EOC Health Services Clinics
no or low cost reproductive health
http://calpolyjobs.org 756.1533
Cuesta College services
544.2478 (SLO); 489.4026 (Arroyo
http://www.cuesta.edu Jobline 546.3127
The Creekside Career Center Grande)
Healthworks of the Central Coast
788.2600 or 237.3014 www.slocareers.
No or low cost reproductive health
org
Department of Rehabilitation services
549.3361 542.0900
Mission Community Services Hearst Cancer Resource Center
Corporation 542.6234
Women’s Business Partners IC Interstitial Cystitis/Painful
595.1357 www.mcscorp.org Bladder Syndrome
Private Industry Council (PIC) 3rd Thursday, SLO, 7 -9 pm 464-0564
www.jobhunt.org 788.2601 Long-term Care Ombudsman Services of
SLO County
LEGAL
785.0132
California Rural Legal Assistance Lymphedema Education & Support
544.7994 Group
Core Mediation Services 2nd Monday, 4-5 pm, 782-9300
544.6334 medeee8@aol.com Parkinson’s Support Groups
District Attorney’s Office – Victim 466.7226 (Atascadero/Templeton)
Witness Center 481.7424 (Arroyo Grande)
781.5821
541.8633 (SLO)
Family Law Facilitator Planned Parenthood
788.3418 SLO 549.9446
Lawyer Referral and Information Stroke Support Group
Service
471.8102 (SLO)
541.5502 Caregivers of Stroke Survivors
Pro Per Divorce Workshop
544.2266 (SLO)
544.9313 The Wellness Community - Cancer Support
Senior Legal Services 238.4411
543.5140
Women’s Support/Therapy v (general)
534.1101
Women’s Healthcare Specialists
544.4883
POLITICAL
Code Pink
www.codepinkslo.org; ososousaville@
charter.net
Commission on Status of Women
788.3406; www.slowomen.org
Democratic Women United
541.4252
League of Women Voters
543.2220
NOW (National Organization for
Women)
www.kcbx.net/~slonow/
slonow@kcbx.net
Adult Literacy
541-4219
Creative Writing Group
748-2676; contact Gloria
Nightwriters
549.9656; contact Shirley Powell
Sisters in Crime
http://SinC-CCC.blogspot.com
SENIORS
Adult Day Care
489.8894 (Arroyo Grande);
434.2081 (Templeton); 927.4290
(Cambria)
Adult Protective Services
781.1790
Caring Callers
547.7025 x 17
Computerooters:
Computer help: 489.6230
Department of Social Services:
In-Home Support 781.1790
Nursing help for the terminally ill
781.5540
Elder and Dependent Adult Advocacy
and Outreach – Victim Witness
Assistance Center
781-5821
Foster Grandparents.Senior
Companions
782.9200
Senior Ballroom Dance club
489.5481 dg17@juno.com
Senior Peer Counseling
Free, trained in.home counseling for 60+
547.7025 ext. 15
SPIRITUAL
Circle of Spiritual Enlightenment
541.1963; www.spiritualcircle.org
Awakening Interfaith Spiritual
Community
Meditation Monday evenings 7-8 pm
Open to all. 772-0306
awakeninginterfaith.org
Resources 23
Hungry Hearts Spiritual Community
RC liturgy with womanpriest 546.8672
Meditation Group
Mondays, 7:30–8:30 PM; 772.0306
New Beginnings Church
Every Sunday, Coalesce Bookstore, MB
Self-Realization Fellowship
Sunday Services 995-1599
WOMEN’S CENTERS/SHELTERS
Homeless Shelter
781-3993
Housing Authority
543.4478
North County Women’s Resource
Center, Shelter
461.1338
Prado Day Center (for the homeless)
786.0617 www.pradodaycenter.org
Women’s Community Center, SLO
544.9313
Women’s Shelter Program of SLO
549.8989 (crises), 781.6401 (business)
www.womensshelterslo.org
OTHER WOMEN’S
ORGANIZATIONS
Altrusa International, Inc.
481.1039; Cici Wynn, President
American Association of University
Women
781-0922 Karen www.aauw.org
Camping Women
440.2723 www.campingwomen.org
Hadassah.SLO
543.9452
OTHER GROUPS &
GATHERINGS
Central Coast Peace and
Environmental Council
544.3399 or 783.2383
Compassion & Choices (or Final Exit)
800.247.7421 or 489-5481
Please send additions, corrections or
deletions to: womenspress.slo@gmail.
com or leave a message at the WCC:
805.544.9313. Last update 3/1/10.
Women’s Community Center
PO Box 15639
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
805 544-9313