Eve and Isabel before the event © 2012 Amanda Jones
Thank god for humor! I’m referring, of course, to last Friday night’s Dominican University Leadership Lecture conversation between Isabel and Eve Ensler, the Tony Award-winning author of The Vagina Monologues and founder of V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls. Listening to Eve talk about her work and her life and the Congo, I was thankful that she has such a bold sense of humor. Isabel, no slouch in the humor department, was a big help with this as well; she was in fine form.
The love and respect the two have for each other was palpable. Isabel deflected all praise back onto Eve with humor and modesty; Eve equally gracious, sent it right back again. Isabel was in awe of Eve’s endeavors and contributions. Eve talked of how Isabel’s books are a personal source of inspiration. The mutual love was viral and by the end of the talk I think the whole audience was collectively embracing these two women. Not just because they are humble and stunning and powerful but also because of the work they do: Eve’s work with V-day and her One Billion Rising campaign, Isabel’s writing and her work with the Foundation.
But the night was for V-day and the Vagina and the dream of the end of violence against women, and for brief moments that seemed tenable. The idea that pain can become power and that there is a little girl in all of us, even inside boys and men, was a strong theme and one that resonated with the audience. If you could not be there, please, please watch this link, as Dominican University has graciously recorded the event for all to enjoy. Remember, though, that some of the stories are tough to hear—stories of horrible atrocities witnessed. You will, however, find relief in lines like, “You need to air out your pussycat,” as well as Eve’s profound statement that: “I don’t know what men do with their tears and often I think that bullets are hardened tears.”
To top it all off, Eve stood and performed a sneak peek of her newest play, I Am An Emotional Creature, which will be performed in June at the Berkeley Rep, here in the Bay Area. The performance she gave was mesmerizing and powerful and brought the audience to its feet. Get tickets NOW! They will be gone soon.
All in all, Eve and Isabel in conversation made for a truly magical evening. The waves of emails and comments that have followed have been full of love and hope.
Take a look at how beautiful the two women looked—Isabel’s hair was FANTASTIC! And yes, I really think that Eve’s red boots would finally make me happy.
© 2012 Amanda Jones
P.S. Log onto the V-Day site and become part of the One Billion Rising!
Here you can see the red boots!
Special thanks to Chilean illustrator and painter Francisco J. Olean. See his 
querida Sarah!! mil gracias .. ire de inmediato aver el enlace!! te prometo que deseaba tanto que lo grabasen y poder verlo!! que mi sueño se hace realidad!!!!!…Mil gracias!! un abracito cargado de mi cariño y agradecimiento!!!! Abraza Isabel por mi por favor!!!!
William, Isabel, Sarah, amigos todos:
Qué bien, siempre amistad y eso debe ser: cuando salgo de madrugada a orinar miro las estrellas y solo puedo entender tanta grandeza para que exista el amor! Isabel, más que escritora, es un crisol donde se funde todo lo mejor de este universo nuestro. A pesar de todo, de nuestras tristezas e injusticias humanas, esa fuerza invisible del amor me da lo necesario para seguir.
Les confieso esto, es solo el estado del tiempo interno:
Tengo tres días de beber sin tregua Cacique con sirope. En este pueblo me van a echar: salgo de casa con cinco mil colones y regreso a casa con cinco mil colones (8 euros aprox.). Dicen que amenazo a todo mundo si no me invitan y saco fiado a la fuerza. Creo, nada me importa en este mundo. Si estoy vivo es por el amor a mi pequeño hijo Octavio de tres añitos, un principito rubio a imagen y semejanza mía cuando pequeño. Le dicen “el catalancito”. Y no soy catalán, sino manchego y canario y después quién sabe qué! Jajaja! Cuando me compongo de la guarera voy y pago a medio mundo y hasta me estafan los monos. Llevo el espíritu suicida mal de familia rondándome: mi abuelo tomellosero “Paco de los coches” se suicidó, mi tío y mi tío abuelo: muy duro sobrevivir a la Guerra civil española. Hablan de un millón de muertos en ese fraticidio-genocidio, pero qué va: no cuentan con las secuelas espirituales y mentales: España vive enferma por eso y ni siquiera “Náralit” fue refugio para mi padre que me hizo la vida imposible desde que nací: seguro miraba toda esa maldad humana en mi sangre dura y veleidosa de varón! Es como ese dicho: “uno sale de la cárcel pero la cárcel no sale de uno”. Estoy borracho y me importa un pito todo. La gente me cae mal porque son monos adoctrinados espiritual-mentalmente. También tal vez sea extraterrestre. Hace días me pienso en la muerte blanca, y a falta de frío pienso en sacar todos los helados de este congelador Skimo y embutirme como feto, morir plácidamente mientras sueño en cosas de infancia, cuando uno era puro y amaba de verdad, pero se pasean en todo los mayores. A mis tres hijos nunca les pegué ni los reprendí: me volé todo el maldito Catecismo con ellos y ese maldito pensar judío y cristiano!
Abrazos fraternos en Amistad y Poesía verdaderas,
Frank Ruffino
Estimada Sarah:
Qué pena por este comentario mío! No debería entrar ebrio a los blogs: por favor te pido disculpas y encarecidamente lo suprimas. Solo la primera parte está bien.
Abrazos,
Frank Ruffino.
Beautiful photographs. Isabel’s hair does indeed look fantastic. xx