Comfort Read

 Although Jane Kirkpatrick is definitely on my author spotlight list, after finishing her latest book, ‘Across the Crying Sands’, I just had to write about it now. 

My earliest memory of reading one of her books was when my family and I were moving from Northern California to the Pacific Northwest, traveling in an RV. Maybe twenty years ago? I recall feeling a little like the characters in her book who were traveling across the country, the new frontier, looking to make something of their lives in a new place, starting over with ambition and hope in their hearts and minds.

This book takes place in the late 1880s and tells the story of a young woman, Mary Gerritse (née Edwards) who meets and marries John Gerritse. He is a kind and loving, somewhat ‘traditional’male of the times. Which is to say he, like most of them, think the place for women is in the home tending to child rearing, cooking, sewing, and taking care of them. I’m tempted to say these were easier, simpler times for women, but they were actually anything but. Times weren’t easy for anyone. Everyone worked hard. Children had real responsibilities, whether they liked it or not. No choice. Usually with the only reward being a job well done. Families had and met their obligations. Or they went without.

Mary loved her husband but soon into her marriage discovered she also wanted more out of life. She wanted to go places to do things like her husband did. In order to ‘fill the purses’ John was a mail carrier. This wasn’t like today’s 9-5 delivery jobs. It took him miles away and for days at a time. Mary became very adept at taking care of home and hearth but still wanted more. She soon began to have children and continued to want more out of life. Her husband, still trying to fill that purse, took a job at sea and was gone for longer periods of time. Mary yearned for adventure, like her husband was enjoying. 

Like many mothers today, Mary was fortunate enough to have her parents live relatively close by (a couple of hours away by canoe) so when a mail carrier route became open she jumped at the chance to try it. She became one of the very first female carriers. She had her adventures alright, with treacherous paths and such but loved it and was accomplished. She was even celebrated with an article written about her in the local newspaper. When the reporter seemed surprised with all she had going on, Mary was quoted as saying ‘We women are capable of being good wives and mothers and having careers.’.  Her husband was congratulated on his choice of marrying such an ‘uncommon’ woman. 

Imagine someone today being surprised by a woman being more than one thing? Wanting the same rights a man has? Jane Kirkpatrick’s women are strong, smart, capable and loving.

Her books are sooo good.