Forever Grateful

There was a collective gasp in the air Friday evening. First thought: it can’t be true. We can’t lose her yet. We still need her to guide our way, to be our advocate, to be our voice. How many are known throughout our country simply by their three initials. RBG. Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Within an hour, Facebook friends had posted their favorite quotes and pictures. Within a day, writers had articulated her goodness, her passion, her knowledge of the law, her quest for equality. She was a phenomenon. That tiny woman who seemed larger than life. By Saturday morning, I knew I could not write about anything else.

There’s a giant hole in our hearts. We knew it would happen. We knew her health was fragile and we knew we were never going to be ready. So as we watch the documentaries, the words of those who knew her best, as well as listening to her own voice in her biographies, we grieve.  We grieve as we give thanks for such a dynamic role model for all of us. How could someone so tiny be so powerful? How could somebody who wore her hair in a bun, with her lace collars, be so popular across so many generations? How? Because she never gave up. We feel as though we knew her. She was the aunt all of us wanted. She fought for us and we are forever grateful for her tenacity. "So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune." That is how we honor her and carry on her legacy. We never give up. Every female has more opportunities to be the woman she wants to be and live the life she wants to live because of Ruth Bader Ginsburg leading the fight for equality. She fought for us and for our rights. She gave us hope and inspiration. Yes, we are forever grateful.

 

On how she'd like to be remembered, MSNBC interview, 2015:

"Someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability and to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. To do something, as my colleague David Souter would say, outside myself. Because I’ve gotten much more satisfaction for the things that I’ve done for which I was not paid."

She researched, read, wrote and then researched, read, and wrote more. "Reading is the key that opens doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams, and more reading helped me make my dreams come true."

On Saturday I was reminded (thank you JoAnne) that Justice Ginsburg deserves to be at peace. Yes, she does. She fought on our behalf for a long, long time. She truly does deserve to rest in peace. And now it’s time for each of us to use our voices to continue the work. "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made." Much still needs to be done. "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."

How do we honor this woman who paved the way for us? By going outside ourselves. Take action, maybe in ways we never thought we could. "I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability." Think about what that means to you.  Think about it and then do something about it to the best of your ability.  We can’t be Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but we can follow her life lessons. "Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time." That is the way we honor this woman who seemed larger than life.