March 8, 2003

We celebrated the Beauty day, i.e. Women's International Day.
It was very special, because the organization I volunteer with had invited thirty widows and mothers of freedom fighters.
Some of the mothers came wearing black from head to toe.
We had prepared an Armenian table: cake, pastry, torts, fruit, sandwiches, candies, champagne, and soft drinks.
A lady had invited a poet living in the area, and she read some of her own poetry; the women spoke, raised some issues to us and to two journalists covering the event. The widows sang and wept, drank, and always remembered the departed ones, whose blood ensured the independence and sovereignty of this country.
Life is hard. But we are Armenian, and as one of the elderly mothers quoted poetry, from another late freedom fighter, Tatul, life continues. We survive and we prevail.

I'd like to congratulate to all women readers in Armenian, 'Tzer Mardi 8-u shnorhavor'.

On a different note, tomorrow I am leaving for Canada for two months.