You know that saying “choose your battles”. It’s great advice!
You’ll remember that the ETI owner, Reace, was here this past Saturday to install two new trailer tires on the rear axle of my trailer and that I assisted with that. He expressed his gratitude for my help and then later expressed admiration of my mechanical knowledge and ability. He listened to me talk and ask questions about the trailer, and I easily understood his answers about the trailer. At no time did he ever say “hey you’re pretty good for a woman” or anything like that. He just noticed that I knew what I was doing and that I pitched in willingly and helped with those tires and he appreciated all of that.
Y’all probably have read it enough times in this blog to know that I’m a retired truck mechanic … four years in diesel/gas school (in addition to regular college before that), 6 months apprenticeship at the Portland airport in Oregon, one year of Ford warranty mechanic classes and work, seven years with the electric company in Portland, Oregon, as a journeylevel mechanic building and maintaining diesel line trucks, and then nine+ years with Federal Express in the Seattle area, maintaining and repairing their trucks. So I know my way around an offset box ratchet wrench and a few other tools (and I still have my big red roll-away in the garage here at home).
So here’s the “battle” that popped up for me. One of my neighbors stopped by after Reace had left this past weekend. This neighbor of mine saw the beautiful brand new trailer and she saw me getting it packed for camping so she came by to see if she could peek inside. I said “Sure, come on in and have a look!” and I smiled. She climbed in and looked around and then she made several comments about how it was sure nice to have a new trailer where nothing needs fixing since you don’t have a man around … !
Well, goodness gracious, what could I say to that? Some men have probably never even SEEN an offset box ratchet wrench, much less would they know what to do with one, or be able to fix anything in/on a travel trailer. In the end I decided to just let it go and not make a fuss. This neighbor is in her late 80s, not that age should matter, but age does matter sometimes. I didn’t want to give her any grief.
Rather than get in a snarl about it, I’ll just share that story with you and then share some photos of women who know what they’re doing in this world while doing activities that are (but aren’t) traditional male activities.
Women have been and are truck mechanics and firefighters and carpenters and plumbers and electricians and airline pilots and architects and electrical engineers and bank managers and mathematicians and blacksmiths and Fortune 500 CEOs and welders and jet pilots and ship captains and … well, you get my drift. Women have been doing all those things and more for as long as those activities have existed.
So here are a few photos of fantastic women doing what they love, and being professionals at what they do (including the professional women card players below), and being the best at doing what they love.
Let’s stop this nonsense that women don’t/can’t do these things, or that they are odd if they do choose to do those things. To me, it’s more a matter of women (and men) learning what they want to learn and being who they want to be.
There’s so much to learn from each other and so much to enjoy about each other and so many reasons to encourage each other. Let’s focus on that, ok?
And now … next post … camping at Kanaskat! Yes, it’s happening, it’s really happening! 🙂
Amen! I agree with everything you said.
Thanks Ginger.
Hear, hear!!
Thanks Arlene.
I’d like to share this post. If I can figure out how to do that, is it OK with you? (And why is your math so HARD (Whine)? 26-18 = …ummmmm…..8? 🙂
LOL! You are such a whiner! 🙂 Yes 8. Guess I better give you my email address so you can get the answers. sigh.
You bet your boots you can share this post, Dawn, or any of them, any time. I’m honored. I think the direct link is https://travelswithtowhee.com/choosing-my-battles/. See if that works.
Married couple friends of mine. Wife, who is less than 5’ tall, completely built custom closets in their home. The quality of construction and design rival the finest professional installations. Virtually 100% of people who see the work say “your husband did a great job”. He doesn’t know which end of a screwdriver to use.
Ah yes, exactly. 🙂 Thanks Peter.
Hello Ann. This is the Old Fat Man. I stumbled across your blog today and started at #1 before supper and just finished catching up to the current blog entry at 10:30 pm. It has been a very enjoyable journey. Of course you can expect me back in the future. From May 2002 until until 10-07-07 I worked in Richland Washington and terrorized the PNW whenever I could get time from work. Your blog has brought back some great memories.
I am well into year 11 of full time of RV travels. Feel free to contact me if I might be of assistance on any subject. Have fun.
Hi Barney, welcome to my blog. I’ll check out your blog for sure. Interesting tag line “Don’t wait, do it now.” Time moves on too fast, doesn’t it. Feel free to contact me too if I might be of assistance to you as well. Thanks for being here.
I’m with ya Ann. Here in Montana women are farmers and ranchers and they break horses and cut timber same as men. Most women don’t care for the really hard work, but some do and their good at it. Lots of men don’t like that hard work either, so whose to quible about who does what work? Each person should do what their good at. Lots of women know stuff that I will never know and that does not make me feel less of a man. I’ve never understood why people have a problem with that. Another great post, thank you! If I am ever in your area and need work done on my truck I am calling YOU!
Dawn, just take your shoes off like I do for the math problems … works really good.
Thanks Tim. 🙂
Dear Offset Box Ratchet Wrench Wench;
Well done!
🙂 Thank you! (that made me smile and chuckle)