Blending my reading into my writing.

I’ve been reading a lot lately about some pretty serious religious stuff. Patriocentrism (a.k.a. Biblical patriarchy), the Quiverfull movement, and the teachings of hyper-fundamentalist Bill Gothard. A lot of my reading has stemmed from two blogs: Razing Ruth, and The Commandments of Men. Some of this has also been discussed at the Stuff Fundies Like forum, and I’ve read several other blogs that have their jumping off points at either of the previous two.

It’s fascinating and horrifying at the same time, reading about how “Ruth” escaped her oppressive family with their ties to Bill Gothard, their patriocentrism and their adherence to the Quiverfull lifestyle. Why did she escape? To keep from marrying the jerk her father allowed to court her. (Good news is that she’s now engaged to the man of her choice!)

Then there’s Lewis, a pretty cool guy who was once engaged to a young lady from such a family. Go read his story; it will break your heart. His bride-to-be was isolated and pressured by her family to drop him. He speaks out on his blog against Biblical Patriarchy and courtship.

Now, how does this fit into my writing?

Well, I’m still working in fits and starts on Moonstrike, my Thunderbirds, “Tracy sister” fanfic, and I wanted to find a reason for two different things. One, why Jeff Tracy and his wife, Lucille, had six children in the first place (six is even considered a large family today; think of how it would be looked on thirty years from now). And, two, why Jeff didn’t ask Lucille’s parents for help in raising the kids after her death.

My answer? Lucille came from a family like the one “Ruth” came from. Like the one Lewis’s ex-fiancée came from. And, like “Ruth”, she fled her home to fulfill her dream of going to college… and marrying Jeff. And as in Lewis’s case, Lucille’s father would have kept his daughter from Jeff if he could.

So, that’s where my reading has blended into my writing. I know it will be unique. I just hope it rings true.

Thank you, “Ruth” and Lewis, for sharing your stories with me. I hope my using them as inspiration doesn’t offend you. If it does, please be honest and let me know.

Rumble, Rumble, Rumble. Mutiny, Mutiny, Mutiny.

I am in a foul mood today, and it’s far too complex and time consuming to explain why. It all has to do with last Friday’s edition of ABC’s 20/20, and the fallout from that. Just to make it perfectly clear, what happened to those women makes my blood boil, as does the response from the so-called “men of God” who have been writing about it (and screaming about it from the pulpit) ever since. My FB friends list has been full of it, mostly from those who support the women (and, in some cases, are the women) involved. If you want to get the full skinny on it, I suggest checking out Stuff Fundies Like; they have a lot of discussion on the matter both on the blog and on the forum.
However, what finally took me from annoyed to foul moodiness has nothing to do with this. It was a friend of mine complaining that her mail carrier won’t stop, get out of his/her truck, and personally deliver their mail to the door because her son’s truck is parked out front and blocking their street-side mailbox. Instead, s/he honks for them to come out and get their mail, and if they don’t come out right away, moves on.
Clue bat time: the mailman isn’t even obligated to stop and honk if your street-side mailbox is blocked. Not because they are “lazy” but because they are far too busy, and on a schedule.  They take too long on their route, they get in trouble. As a carrier’s wife with a husband who actually WALKS his route, and does deliver door-to-door, this infuriated me. Hence the foul mood.
I’m going to try and stay away from FB (and my other blogs) for the rest of the day. I’ve had enough.