A Thorough Human Being

Maybe I should surprise you and begin with "Big Women" or should I say "Strong Women." Thoughts come to mind about big women because it's the complete opposite of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, "Little Women." But the real reason for bringing this to your attention is to focus on one of the characters, Josephine "Jo" March, the chief protagonist of the novel based on Ms. Alcott (pictured above) herself.

Jo is a tomboy and the second eldest sister at fifteen. She is very outspoken and has a passion for writing. Her bold nature often gets her into trouble. She is especially close to her younger sister Beth, who tries to help her become a gentler person. At the beginning of the book, she is employed by her Aunt March as a companion, but when Beth becomes ill, Amy is sent in Jo's place. Jo cuts off her long, chestnut brown hair — "her one beauty", as Amy calls it — and sells it to a wig shop to get money for her mother to visit their father, a sick Civil War chaplain. She refuses the proposal of marriage from family friend Laurie (despite many letters sent to Miss Alcott to have them married), and after Jo moves to New York, later meets and marries Professor Friedrich "Fritz" Bhaer.

Quite simply, Jo was and will forever be remembered as an entrepreneur and a thorough human being. Here's one of her famous remarks:

"Look at me, World, I'm Jo March, and I'm so happy."

If you have a chance, watch (review here) the original 1933 B/W classic "Little Women" movie to experience a couple of hours of warm and fuzzy feelings. I think I've seen it at least three dozen times and plan to watch it again this holiday season.