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International Women's Day


I cannot let this week pass without acknowledging that this past Tuesday was International Women’s Day. Thankfully, my daughter, Amy, reminded me how very important that day was, so I would like to add my two cents in honoring a few of the women who made a difference in my life.

Of course, I must honor my mother first and foremost. Without her I wouldn’t be here. Though I was her third son she never showed her disappointment that I was not the daughter she had always wanted. It was she that fed me, changed my diaper and pointed me in the right directions. It was she that taught me to run, climb trees and appreciate the great outdoors.

In school the majority of my teachers were women. Though I gave them a run for their meager paychecks they taught me to read, write and fear the male principals. Why were all the principals male? They taught me about the arts, sciences, history and prepared me for the future.

There are a few that will always have a special place in my heart. There was the teacher in the third grade that saw how special I was and moved me to the head of the class. She placed my desk right beside hers so she could keep an eye on me. I can’t forget the librarian in junior high that reminded me of The Wicked Witch of the West. Then there was the teacher in high school that I called Mother Art. Her class was like an oasis in a desert. She was a counselor, friend and mentor. There was the typing teacher I feared and respected. As the years passed by I look back at her with fondness and admiration. Time will do that to you. I cannot forget my algebra teacher, she was my cousin and pushed me further than I thought possible. Without her I wouldn’t have made it through high school. There were others, but these ladies are at the top of the heap.

Then there were the ‘girl’ women who came into my life. I was a senior before I mustered the courage to date. There was that first, special girl I asked out. I’m sure she didn’t want to go out with me, but her mother, bless her heart, encouraged her to humor me. Though we only went out once I must thank her for being brave and kind. I am pleased to say we are still friends. I must mention the first girl I fell madly in love with. We dated several months before my fear of not knowing how to kiss lead me to break up with her. Thankfully someone, still unknown to me, hopped into my car one night at Gentry’s Parking lot and broke the ice. She kissed me like I’d never been kissed before because I hadn’t been kissed before. To this very day I still wonder who that young woman was. If she is still out there I want to say, “THANK YOU!”

I cannot acknowledge International Women’s Day without honoring my grandmother, Corrie Algood. She loved me unquestionably. She taught me patience, frugality, and always, always lifted me up. She gave me my dry sense of humor, self-respect and instilled in me the duty of living up to my family name. I still miss her.

My wife. The most important woman in my life. She taught me more than all the rest. She loved me when I had given up on myself. She has stood by me throughout all my highs and lows. She is my rock, my lighthouse when storms pound upon me. Life wouldn’t be worth living without her. She is the strongest woman I have ever known. I am a lucky guy.

And then there are my daughters. When I was younger I imagined myself having a son, someone to carry on the family name. At the time I thought it was important. Along came my first child – a daughter. I discovered a love I couldn’t have imagined. She gave me a new reason to wake up every morning. It was amazing to watch her grow before my very eyes! Then along came daughter number two. I could have cared less that she wasn’t a son. She was a tomboy. She loved Hershel Walker footballs, and kept us on our toes. She has always been her own person and amazed me with her courage and kind heart. Ten healthy toes and ten healthy fingers brought joy to my life again when our last child came along. Daughter number three. By that time I couldn’t imagine having anything but daughters in my life. She was the one that constantly brought laughter to our dinner table. And she was the one that astounded us by moving thousands of miles away to Alaska and blossoming into a strong, independent woman.

My three daughters are the loves of my life. I look at them and feel like I did something right in my life. They have given me five grandchildren and renewed my hope for the future. They brought another kind of love into my life only being a grandparent can bring.

So, on this week of International Women’s Day I salute all the women in my life. Without all of you I wouldn’t be me. Thank you. You have blessed me.


Corrie Bennett Algood

Left to right. Carrie, Becky, Amy and Tina. 1988 Philadelphia, PA.

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Rick Algood
March 11, 2016

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