Much of my work is inspired by my paternal Grandma Ida, who lived from 1904 to 1926, dying at only 22 years of age from pregnancy complications. Grandma was named after Ida Blazer, and Ms. Blazer actually can be found in "The History of Columbiana County, Ohio" by William B. McCord of Salem, Oh (1905) on pages 760-763 we have a good entry on the "Women's Christian Temperance Union" of Salineville Ohio, which was organized Sept. 12, 1891.

From Grandma's own letters and the letters written about her, we can see she would have fit right into the "Women's Lib Movements" that was to come in the 1960's. She was also highly spiritual, likely with Spiritualist leanings and with what might have been a philosophical touch to her thoughts.

Actually almost all my grandmothers and great-grandmothers were highly religious women, back through the generations. It's funny when I take one of those "What Religion Are You?" tests, it always has mixed around at the top : Quaker, Methodist, New Age/Pagan, Jewish, Unitarian, and Buddhist.

I truly am a grand mixture of beliefs. I truly believe that all religions are heading for the top of the same mountain, just taking different trails to get up there. I only want people to believe in something that best suits them and to... listen to their own, still small voice to guide them. I believe that if we can each do that, we won't care what the other person believes.

Blessings!  Sister Margaretta Nicodemus

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Copyright Rev. Lyn D. Black, 08/2006