Literal Latte Literary Magazine Submission

There are a million Literary Magazines out there. I found this one and will submit my first short story with hopes of publication. I would love to win the Pushcart Award, but that may be pushing it...pun on words.

It is on abortion in the 1930's. It was fascinating to write and learn what I thought I knew.
I was a teen that was pregnant, so that part of the story came from personal experience. I did not get an abortion though. The story started out in the modern world of abortion and clinics and quickly changed to the 1930's. The reason it was so easy for me to write about this was through conversations with my dear old friend, who was Spanish, Irish, and French. She was born in 1940. Her sister had went to Delaware for an abortion.

It takes place in 1937, after WWII, when the number of unwed women getting abortion were rising. This is compared to pre-WWII when it was mostly married women and a form of birth control. It captures the feelings of abortion, which was not much guilt. It was a matter of fact act. But, the death of abortion was a very real thing. In 1915 death of Anna Johnson, to a doctor perforating a girls uterus and pulling out her intestines were just a few of the stories told. It was an era that women did not discuss there sexual organs or abortion in public. You just didn't.

I will let you know if it makes it to the magazine!!

Morning after Pill for thought....

Chicago


In 1915 Anna Johnson got pregnant by her boyfriend. Marshall, the boyfriend got abortifacient pills from Dr. Shaver's son for Anna. When the pills failed, Marshall arranged for her to go to Dr. Shaver's home for an illegal abortion.

What happened next was not thinkable. In a abortion gone bad night, Anna Johnson was found dead. Dr. Shaver said that she had hired Anna Johnson as a maid and the girl had committed suicide.

It was speculated that Shaver killed Anna to cover up a bad abortion.

Newspaper headlines such as "Unmarried Lead Deaths" and "Health Committee to Take up Baby and Women Killing Inquiry at Once" all emphasized the deaths of unmarried women following abortions. The Tribune grandly displayed photos of Shaver's apartment, Anna Johnson, and the pills she had taken. 



Now, 84 years later, the abortion pills are available over the counter without a prescription.
Now, there is no shame. You do not have to go to the abortion clinic. There is no moral decision making to do. Because that would exhaust you. Just pop a pill and live with out responsibility and consequences  It's like giving kids a pill to take if they crash their car. Take the pill and your car will be good as new tomorrow. No consequences. Do it again next week...We are raising people who lack ability to make moral decisions and an understanding of direct consequences.
source



2006 state status and morning after pill



update on per state legislation click here
As of 2012 there are some states that have the right to refuse to fill and vice verse  they can't refuse to fill the prescription.



update and stats on morning after pill usage. click here
Pennsylvania College and Morning After Pill vending machine click here

Don't Go It Alone

Whoever heard of a great Baker without the help of an oven.
Or the momentous Speech with out the help of a mouth.
Or the Swimmer without water to glide in.
Or the man who doesn't pray.
For only the fool thinks he can do it alone.
For you see, we do nothing a lone.
The writer has his pen.
The Entrepreneur has his customers.
The best Cardiologist uses an EKG machine.
The Pianist would be nothing with out the keys.
The Child his mother.
God has his prophets.
The Greats all had support.
They didn't go it alone. 

Being the Perfect Mom is Over-rated

I have been a mom for almost 18 years. I have washed dishes 365x18...6570 and then some, because we all know that we have to do dishes more than once in a day. I have taken my kids on family field trips. I have taken them to church almost every Sunday. I have read to them every night until they could read on their own. I have been as close as I can to the perfect mom.
I have also never cared what other people think. I have done it all for my kids. I have never cared if they wanted to wear shorts in the snow. Because, sooner or later they would learn it is better to be warm. I have relished in learning moments for the kids. When they got their first F or when they forgot their lunch. I have quietly relished in the moments I simply suggested they make a plan and theirs didn't work out. I believe the best lessons in life are learned, not taught.
I have learned a lot being a mom. I have never compared myself to other moms. I have had fleeting thoughts about my style of parenting but I have erased those thoughts as I have always thought about what was best for my kids.
The biggest lesson I have learned is that I am not aiming to to the perfect mom. Whoever thinks they are the perfect mom is striving to please others, to look good in front of the neighbors. My kids will not answer my question.." Am I the perfect mom?" kid 1: "I'm reading." kid 2 "hah, you can answer that."

I like not doing the dishes every now and then. I like sitting down and relaxing. I like reading my book. I like saying NO. I like saying Yes. I like saying I don't know. I like not pretending to be the perfect mom. It's less stress. I am only trying to teach my kids I will always be there for them and that I love them, not that I was the perfect mom. That would only be a medal around my neck, not theirs.