My Very Own Moment of History.... with Geraldine Ferraro

Circa the mid-1990s.
I was on a plane, yet again. I said in the window seat. And if I remember correctly, I had used my own seat belt extender from AmpleStuff. You always expect the worst on planes for some reason. Like the person is going to look you over with an a snotty attitude, eye roll, etc. And I was probably fatter than Kevin Smith, but they kept my ass on the plane. My shuttles to and fro DC were always pleasant and extremely regular. How regular? The custodian for the ladies room at LGA was named Olga. If you are still there, Olga-- "Hello again." Smile.

So, I get settled and I notice there is a middle aged woman in a nice suit taking her seat on the aisle in my row. She greeted me with a warm smile. I wasn't worried-- LGA's Air Terminal shuttle to Dulles was a relatively short ride.

So here I am, bored with whatever I am reading, and I look over at this lady, and am thinking to myself. I ought to tell her she really looks like Geraldine Ferraro. Hmm.....I would love to give her that compliment, but... well, thinking to myself--you never know how someone would react to that. What if she was a Republican?!

The flight attendant shows up to serve the drink. The lady next to me whips out her AMEX card, and purchases something on the sky mall--from what I recall nothing particularly expensive, important, or exciting.

As she is handing the card to the flight attendant.....I looked over and read "Geraldine Ferraro." Hot damn! Well, I know she didn't leave home without it. Now, I never thought that I was going to grow and be President, but...I did serve as a page for the State of Connecticut--so I had my political moments and political interest. And this made me happy because she was the first woman political candidate on a presidential level.

I felt happy that Ferraro--despite all the controversy and crap that followed, that she was chosen, and ran. It mattered not that they did not win, the victory, I felt at that time--and still do, was that she was a woman--and another rung on the ladder was taken upward when she ran for VP.

So I looked at GF when the flight attendant had finished, and said "You know I was going to tell you that you looked just like Geraldine Ferraro; but based on your interaction with the flight attendant.....not only do I think you look like her, I think you are her!"

"Yes I am," she said, warmly with a half-chuckle. I have to say she was really lovely and very pleasant. She saw me as a kind of admirer, a woman younger than she, and a person who sat on the same plane she did. She never "looked me over", or at any other part of my body. She looked me in the eye. And ya know what? I appreciated that.

I told her I thought she was great. I know it was not an easy thing to live through--the good, the bad, the press, the indifferent. But, that her choice to run was an act of courage. Truly her life was never the same. But, I appreciated her courage. She had fought for women's rights even as a lawyer.

Somedays I feel like the Sarah Palin of fat acceptance, because I feel what I feel, which sometimes does not 100% agree with the party line in one degree or another--whatever form that may be-- and that makes me feel very Sarah Palinesque, um, I mean rogue. [I might join her for s'mores, but I challenge her at shooting. Hence the photo. She does not seem to agree with Michele Obama's tactics (sans tact?), I mean strategies, for her childhood obesity propaganda, I mean initiative. Ahem.]

Now, out here in FATLAND, I must say that one may not agree with everyone, nor will everyone agree with me. BUT, I am fiercely sincere in wanting everyone to be respectful,feel respected and included, and agreeing to disagree if need be. We are here to celebrate our differences, and build bridges, not create walls. It is those same differences that we try to elevate,celebrate,lighten and enlighten among our own overlapping communities as well as society at large, medium, or small.

So, thank you Geraldine. I know I thanked you in person, but I am just sending you this reminder and adieu out into the cyberspace of the world, hoping it reaches you where ever you may be. Even Sarah Palin commented about Ferraro on her own FaceBook,"She broke one huge barrier and then went on to break many more. May her example of hard work and dedication to America continue to inspire all women." I say--Amen to that.

A nod, a smile, and a wink, for you Geraldine. You really are up in the sky this time. God bless America.

Waving from here,
KIRA NERUSSKAYA
NEW YORK CITY