Inertia

No momentum this morning, so I sat next to Moby, and we snuggled for a long time. Got a lot done yesterday, though.


Pete writes about the difficulty of having even an imaginary conversation with historical figures. Nonetheless finding any women to have a time-traveling chat with. So, I put my Babel Fish in my ear, get in my TARDIS and head out.

First, a few women, since they are more likely to talk to me.

A point of childhood fascination, the BVM, as she really was, if she really was just one woman, which is to say that the person who was the prophet who instigated Christianity was one person, with therefore one mother. Was she a demi-goddess, saint on earth, Judeo-Roman cult vestal maiden, ignorant tribal woman, a victim of religious mania? I always wanted her view of the whole matter, of her family, not the mythology, not the image after the apotheosis. Even now, indifferent to the idea of faith, having never felt the pull, I would love to know the truth of this woman's existence.

A conversation with Jane Austen, insightful wit and doomed to a short life, would have to include my assuring her she would be remembered for centuries to come.

Artemisia Gentileschi might have an interesting view of life, and thoughts on justice as well as art.

I'd like to talk to some of the women who cross-dressed and joined armies throughout history. By extension, Pope Joan, if she existed, or other women who probably infiltrated the masculine church. No doubt some more accurately described as transgendered. Mostly, just talking to ordinary women living through extraordinary times, to understand their troubles and joys.