When I was getting ready to post the results of the workshops I offered in Baton Rouge the last time I was in the states, I remembered that I had these photos of a very impressive group of women who I'm proud to call friends and colleagues. When I went to work at the Children's Bureau in New Orleans, the then Executive Director, Gay Lynn Bond, invited me to join a "Feminist Social Worker's Dinner Group". We met once a month when I joined in the early '90's. I was (and still am) the youngster in the group, and have to confess to being very much in awe by this accomplished group of women. People came and went as their lives changed. Some moved too far away to drop in to New Orleans for dinner, but we always tried to pull as many of us together as we could when we knew a former member was coming to town. In that first shot on the left, I believe that we were all still living and working in New Orleans. Nadine Henneman was behind the camera on that shot taken at her place. By the time the second photo was taken out at Joe's Crab Shack on the Lakefront: Charlotte Behre had moved to Washington State, Pat Davis and Betty Spencer had moved east to Mississippi (not very far really), and Gay Lynn Bond had moved to Shreveport. Nadine and I were still in New Orleans. It was that last shot of the group (taken by our waiter) that had me thinking about the hundreds of years of social work among those of us at the table!
Imagine how pleased I was when Nadine told me that Pat Davis and Betty Spencer wanted to drive over from Mississippi for a visit. Nadine and I see each other regularly on my returns, but this was a special treat. She hosted a Sunday afternoon spread for us at her place, that found me gorging myself on strawberries, dips and carrot cake. We spent some time catching up on what was happening with others. Some of us are in better touch, but Nadine has really been the glue that has held this group together for me.
As you can see from the photos, we had quite a celebration. I teased Betty and Pat about whether they had color coordinated their outfits before they left home. The food was incredible, the table beautiful, and the napkins made me laugh;but nothing could beat the friendship and camaraderie that continues even though there's 5000 miles and an ocean between us. I knew the moment I stepped up to the door and saw Nadine's "Trust Women", "Brad Pitt for Mayor", and "This House Protected by the ACLU" signs that I was home, and among friends. Betty and Pat wanted to head out so they wouldn't be driving home in the dark. They were on their way ahead of me, but that gave me a little time to catch up more with Nadine. It was a really special afternoon for me with friends who came along and keep on coming! A Huge Merci to Nadine, Pat and Betty!
You'd love this gang Evelyn-we'd have to make you an honorary social worker...oh, I don't know-being a feminist is probably enough!
Posted by: Laury Bourgeois | January 20, 2010 at 02:55 PM
What a fun group! I would have loved to have been a mouse in the corner when all you feminists got together...bet the conversations were wild and wide-ranging!
Posted by: Evelyn Jackson | January 20, 2010 at 02:06 PM