posted by Evi on Sep 8
Sometimes I feel I’ve lived my life on a fast track to nowhere. I haven’t got much to show for it – no great accomplishments, progeny, whatever.
I got married for the first time in my 50’s and my only child is a gray and white housecat. No, I’m not a dotty old cat lady though my husband, Bill, would beg to differ. He claims that I lavish more attention on Smoochie Cat than I do on him. Actually, he’s probably right.
I’ve held down more jobs than the average person plus 10 of his or her buddies put together – from factory worker to tax investigator – so I never really stayed long enough anyway to gain a toehold on that mountain to success. I’ve taken plenty of courses which I never put to any use.
But then, back in the 1950’s and 1960’s when I went to school, not much was made of careers for women. Home Economics was a popular option which I did not excel at. I wasn’t domestic then and I sure as hell ain’t now. If you come to visit, check your white gloves at the door, please.
Even though I was and, hopefully still am smart, I was lazy and just drifted my way through school. So the best I could hope for was secretary or hairdresser. And there should be plenty of women thanking God that my guidance counselor steered me away from that. When it comes to styling my own hair, I’d be better off just shaving my head bald and wearing wigs for the rest of my life.
Marriage and kids were the last things on my mind, and let me tell you, I’m glad I didn’t travel that road like some of my other classmates did before even graduating high school. For the record, there were men throughout the years who proposed marriage who I turned down. And I’m glad I did because I never would have had the opportunity to experience different things in life or travel to places I never could have otherwise.
Of course, I did engage in a lot of stupidity and did things that were just plain not nice and, yeah, if I could take some of that back I would.
So, maybe I’ll make something out of myself yet. I’m just hoping that the track doesn’t run out on me anytime soon.