I Love Lucy!

My friend, Lucy Power Woika, inspires me.  In his wedding toast yesterday, her uncle Bob used three words to describe her, “G-Force, gumption, garrulous.

g–force noun \ˈjē-ˌfȯrs\

:  the force of gravity or acceleration on a body <pilots experiencing strong g–forces during takeoff>

I met Lucy when she was about seven. A little person, she had big and I mean big energy and lots of drive.  The oldest of three sisters, she seemed to be in perpetual motion, running circles around everyone. She loved to swim (won medals at the Little People competitive sports games), played a tricked out viola strung as a violin to fit her (she’s the reason my musician daughter, Sophie, took up the violin at age 4), and involved herself in a range of activities from theater to horseback riding. When she applied to college, she asked me to edit her essay; she talked about having to take three or four steps to every one step her peers took. Lucy does better than keep up; she leads.

gump·tion noun \ˈgəm(p)-shən\

: courage and confidence

When Lucy was in grade school, she and her dad, Judd, went around to all the classes at the school, and spoke about what it means to be a little person. She auditioned for the musical “Annie,” and guess who got the leading role? One of the only times I can remember her parents, Anne and Judd (my role models for raising remarkable daughters) saying “no” to her, was when they vetoed Lucy trying out for the St. Ignatius high school football team; instead, Lucy joined the track team and competed in the shot put.  Lucy graduated from UC at Berkeley a few years ago; landed herself a job at a recruiting company, and has since joined a technology company doing support for a productivity mobile application. 

gar·ru·lous adjective \ˈger-ə-ləs, ˈga-rə- also ˈger-yə-\

: tending to talk a lot : very talkative

Lucy knows how to work a room.  She has on many occasions addressed family gatherings, and eloquently thanked each person for his or her kindness, help, and support.  She loves a good conversation, a spirited debate.

Yesterday, Lucy married Ben, and as their group of friends noted, she has met her match and couldn’t be happier. 

“This is the best day of my life,” Lucy exclaimed.   She danced with her groom.  She danced joyously with her dad, and Ben danced with his mom, who wore kneepads under her gown and held her son close, swaying to the music. 

After their honeymoon, Lucy and Ben plan to attend the LPA’s annual convention (where they met five years ago) next week in San Diego. The LPA’s mission statement reads:

“Little People of America is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with dwarfism throughout their lives while celebrating with great pride Little People’s contribution to social diversity.  LPA strives to bring solutions and global awareness to the prominent issues affecting individuals of short stature and their families.”

Lucy and I bond around civil rights.  Little people face physical and social barriers.   The LPA has a clear policy agenda that that promotes access, opportunity and fair treatment for people with dwarfism in all aspects of their lives.  I have learned a lot from Lucy over the years, watching her navigate the world, with her 3 G’s.                                                                                                              

Much love to Lucy and Ben.  L’chaim!