Title IX

Dear Tomboys of the 60's,

Hi there. I am a girl who was a tomboy and played and played and played every sport that involved a sphere. I consider myself a tomboy of the 90s, but I am not sure that term was ever put on me. I don't remember hearing it, and I think it is because of this thing called Title IX, whatever it is. I was just an athletic girl, and sometimes even just an athlete.

Climbing in trees and jumping over fences, what a great way to use your energy. Thank you for being tomboys even though no one gave you sports to play. Making bruises and scars cool must have been hard when there was no goal posts in sight. Female athletes owe you all for the healthy, exercise filled lives we live today.

But we owe you more than that, don't we. Legitimizing women's sports has been a struggle and not having sports to legitimize must have been devastating. I can't imagine not doing something you knew you had a talent for, a desire for. Or being told you can't or aren't good enough to do something you know you can do. Was that second part worse? I would think it would be worse.

I look around at many of my friends and many of the things I love about my life and they have so much to do with sports and athletics and there is no way those things would have existed without you. You tomboys, breaking through the powder being puffed onto cheeks, you are the ones I have to thank.

Thank you for my strong back to pick up and carry my children. Thank you for my determination to do better and to be better. Thank you for knowing how to work with others as a team. Thank you mostly for showing me how to live a healthy life, one where staying fit is fun.

Thank you tomboys, I owe you my life.

Love,

Celine