How does the weight balance in space, or in time?

There’s a big clamor right now in the news bringing us stories from space. Yes indeed, those two NASA astronauts — Jessica Meir and Christina Koch — conducted the first all-female spacewalk outside of the International Space Station. They began their spacewalk early in the day with the official time beginning at 7:38 a.m. ET. It was one heck of a walk. It lasted for seven hours and 17 minutes. Now, to me, this is a big dang deal. I’m thinking about the logistics of things. I have to pee about every hour, give or take a few minutes. So. Either they have really good bladders or they’re peeing in their new space suites. It think it is probably the latter. And, well.

The second thing is food. My blood sugar drops off in my body rather quickly. I’m not diabetic, and there seems to be no other apparent cause. Yet it happens. I get very hungry, and then somewhat cranky, without the constant stream of food to mouth. If I were out walking in space for seven hours, I’d need at least one lunch break, and probably two good snacks in between.

Clearly, my aspirations of becoming an astronaut have dropped off severely. So I applaud these two women, on all their merits. The challenges are many.

Anyway, the spacewalk went well, according to both astronauts. They said they were even able to accomplish some get-ahead tasks on the station. I’m not sure what “get-ahead” tasks are, but. More power to them. As an item of note: The astronauts reported they were able to see the Earth pass beneath their feet. I’m hoping the people below were waving.

I don’t know though. I mean, I am happy and glad for this advancement in equality. Don’t get me wrong. It is time for equality to ring. But, this whole event seems a little overblown to me. There have been a lot of women in space, for a long time now, doing the same jobs as men. It seems — at least from down here — that women astronauts have been toeing the line for years. I think the all-girl walk around the big can is great, but, I’m not sure I understand the fervor.

Besides, back in college, two of my friends and I did the Moonwalk in the 2nd floor hallway at our dormitory. Schwitzer Hall to be exact. We killed it. People cheered. There were beers. Celebrations and party streamers. The all-girl rendition of Michael Jackson’s infamous steps. Thriller. So, I feel like I was one of the early pioneers, somehow, and it never made the headlines.

But seriously, the need for Gender Equality is long overdue, and extremely important. Women are treated as second class in comparison to our male counterparts. Not just where pay is concerned, and opportunity, but in many other ways. I find it freaking unbelievable that women are still asked to be “submissive to their husbands” by outdated religious ramblings. It is incredulous. I think these are the things that should be plastered in the headlines.

I am glad for this recent accomplishment, don’t get me wrong. But I wonder what the headlines truly do for the cause of Gender Equality. Do certain onlookers say, “Well hey. Looky there. We’ve let them walk all by themselves in space. We’re all equals now. What more do they have to complain about?”

This space walk was a great thing. But. We have a long way to go until the world becomes an equal place. I just hope that we all remember this, and walk the walk, when it comes to us.

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“Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal with it.”
― George Carlin

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“He – and if there is a God, I am convinced he is a he, because no woman could or would ever fuck things up this badly.”
― George Carlin

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“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.”
― Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

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