Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • April 24, 2017

Ap 30 {1882}. I am very well, but age tells on me. My feet are lame if I wear old shoes, my new teeth make my gums sore. It is useless to try to console myself with the recollection that when I was young new shoes harassed me and old teeth kept me awake; the pains of youth are easily forgotten and quickly remedied; those of age cling to you and must be borne. I am thankful to have nothing worse of physical ills.


Even America’s first woman astronomer faced the challenges of getting older. Her description makes me smile – it’s spelled out in typical, forward, no bones about it Maria “speak.” Frank and to the point but also somewhat philosophical if I may say that. The grass is always greener on the other side! When you are young, you want to be older. When you are older, you want to be younger. But as you age, well, playing on the floor with your three-year-old gets a little more creaky. Your child starts to think all mommies moan when they get up from sitting on the floor – and that it takes a while. I wonder what MM would think of me?

 

JNLF (AKA Old Mommy)

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