speak up anyway

stand up anyway

survive anyway

"1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016... these were the years we spoke up about Larry Nassar's abuse. All those years we were told, 'you are wrong, you misunderstood, he's a doctor, it's okay, don't worry, we've got it covered, be careful, there are risks involved'. The intention? To silence us in favor of money, medals, and reputation. But we persisted and finally someone listened and believed us."

"All we needed was one adult to have the integrity to stand between us and Larry Nassar. If just one adult had listened, believed, and acted, the people standing before you on this stage would have never met him."

"We may have suffered alone, but we will survive together."

"I proposed to Bruce in a classroom. It was the first time I’d seen him teach, and I was already in love with him, but watching him teach let me see one more thing about him — and that was it. When class was over and the students had cleared out, he came up to me and asked, somewhat hesitantly, 'Uh, what did you think?'

'What can I say? Will you marry me?'

He stared back at me. It was not the first (or last) time that I gob smacked him. If I was a hard-charging, go-to-the-mat-for-whatever-you-believe kind of professor, he was more of a scholarly, camping-out-in-the-archives-poring-over-an-old-legal-manuscript kind. I’m usually the one with the wild schemes, and he’s usually the voice of reason, calmly explaining why it isn’t a great idea to paint the ceiling dark purple or rip all those unknown vines out of the overgrown flower bed by hand (lesson learned: poison ivy). 

But he blinked a couple of times, then jumped in with both feet. 'OK.'

To make sure the deal was sealed, I smiled and said, 'Good. Let’s do it.'

It made no sense at all. Bruce was teaching in Connecticut, and I was teaching in Houston. And besides, there was the small matter of the fact that I had a complicated life: two children, both of my parents and my Aunt Bee popping in and out all day, a red station wagon and a mean little dog that bit people. Bruce had lived with none of the above — children, seniors, station wagons or dogs — but he never hesitated.

We got married 36 years ago today. It made no sense at all, but maybe that’s how love works. All I know is that I’m sure glad I asked — and sure glad he said yes. 

Happy anniversary, Sweetie! I love you." -- Elizabeth Warren, 7/12/16

take care of business

​go light like cray