09/03/2026
Last December, my sister Ann and I had the opportunity to have tea with Gloria. This was my post just after. I’m saddened by her passing, but so grateful for her life and all she gave us. Thank you, Gloria, and rest in peace. 🤍 This week, Ann and I had the opportunity to meet one of our heroes: Gloria Steinem. Just the two of us had tea with her in her living room and shared a glorious hour of free flowing conversation, chatting about so many things. We spoke about the progressiveness of our home state of MN, her favorite show Call The Midwife and my sister’s work as a birthing professional, and Ann Marie Gilligan, RN . She asked about my connection to France and my fluency in the language, and what a gift it is to speak more than one language. We spoke a lot about our parents who were similar in age and life’s mission as activists for equality, peace and justice - from my mom’s organizations, to our dad’s story - from Mexican immigrant parents, he grew up working in the fields in the summer and went on to become a lawyer, a judge, and til his last days working for immigrants rights in MN. She asked if anyone had ever written down our father’s story. We talked about the power of writing longhand, and not having the time to do all the writing we want to do — her editor is awaiting a book of essays. We talked about her friendship with Wilma Mankiller, the first woman Chief of the Cherokee Nation and what it was like to be with her when she passed. She spoke of her itinerant childhood with her sister and parents — her dad a true wanderer. Gloria is 91, but If I had to guess how she keeps her mind so sharp it is by hosting what she calls Talking Circles at her house. She is often welcoming people into her living room to have pertinent, stimulating conversations and organizing committees. As we left Ann gave her an Arnica muscle cream, custom blended by a witch in Wisconsin. And I gave her a Vive La Resistance bandana as there’s no one who embodies that spirit more! Merci Gloria, pour tout, really for everything. Et oui, Vive La Resistance!
