Happy Birthday Rosa!

Most people who know me know that I have a few heroes in my life -- outside my family, of course -- and today is the birthday of one of them. This one hasn't ever changed, she's always been a hero to me, and whenever I play that game where you tell who you'd like to meet, anyone, living or dead, hers is always one of the two names that come to mind right away --the other being Harvey Milk.

And today marks the 101st birthday of that other hero of mine, Rosa Parks, and I'd like to remember her in her own words:

Each person must live their life as a model for others.

I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.

I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free.

Whatever my individual desires were to be free, I was not alone. There were many others who felt the same way.

All I was doing was trying to get home from work.

At the time I was arrested I had no idea it would turn into this. It was just a day like any other day. The only thing that made it significant was that the masses of the people joined in.

The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.