Overturned

When Roe vs. Wade was overturned by the US Supreme Court I couldn't work, so I sat and listened to one of my favorite dramas while I stitched this practice piece. I don't know what it is, what it means, or why I made it the way it is. I just worked and focused on finding calm through stitching. I probably won't make it a journal cover, but hang it somewhere in my office so I can look at it when I feel upset.

We live in a world where every minute of the day so many women are harmed, suffer and die needlessly. I don't understand why that happens, or why this ruling happened. How can this happen?

When I was eleven years old a family member of mine got pregnant and threatened to kill herself because she did not want to have the child. She was only sixteen years old. My very religious mother took her to a doctor to get a safe abortion, and paid for the procedure. I know she saved that girl's life. I can't imagine how difficult it was for Mom to set aside her personal beliefs to protect a teenager, but she did.

My daughter does not want to have children; she never has. This ruling could mean that the only ways she'll be able to protect herself and live her life the way she wants is to be celibate or get a tubal ligation. I've always told her that I will pay for the procedure if she opts for surgery, and I will keep that promise.