stephbg | Reasons to be grateful

I'll be wandering into less familiar territory with this post, but the friendships I have grown in the last 3 years in particular have made me realise how fortunate I am.

I have met many tradesmen in the last five years; the house has needed a lot of work. The majority of these interactions involved me--a solitary female--hosting one or two strong and/or fit males in and around the home, many with their own vehicles and tool kits. Ropes. Gaffer tape.

And yet I have never feared for my own safety. I greet these men with undimmed confidence, discuss the work, and often exchange jokes and the trappings of friendship if it's a longer project. I chastise and thank as required. I demand information and challenge ideas.

And I am not afraid, nor have ever been. It suddenly occurred to me that there are many women for whom this is not true; for whom the idea of summoning a carpenter or roofer is fraught with fear.

So I am grateful that in my house, I have the power. I am the queen.