I had heard a great deal about the Mad Men TV series recently. I decided it was time to see what I was missing and rented season one.  My husband and I have spent the past three evenings up at the cottage watching and I have to tell you I find the series fascinating and slightly disturbing at the same time. It truly transports you back into a specific period of time – 1960.

Having been born in 1964 with my sister a few years before in 1961 I’m surprised we survived.  I remember travelling to Myrtle Beach on our annual family vacation sitting on the floor of the back, yes the floor of our big bad ass Chrysler. Why the floor because there were 5 adults and 2 children heading down therefore the smallest one got the floor, the number of seatbelts available was simply not considered or an issue.  

I am sure everyone remembers there was one rule you and everyone on the street had to comply with and that was to be home when the street lights came on . . .  no one worried or looked for you until then.  Time outs were called “being sent to your room” and trust me there was no one minute per year theory, when you went to your room you stayed there till someone remembered where you were and that was usually when the street lights came on!

Although it is fascinating to watch what the advertising world was like in the 60’s with the good ole boys club. There are times when the show actually makes me feel physically uncomfortable.  I have always known intellectually that it was a man’s world back in the 50’s and 60’s but this series slaps you in the face with it.

To think that much can change in such a short period of time, then again it has been 50 years (I hate when that sneaks up on me). All I can say is Thank God for the women who came before me and changed my lot in life. Women like Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan and Bella Abzug. If you haven’t watched the series I highly recommend it . . . History should never repeat itself!

Each suburban wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries, matched slipcover material, ate peanut butter sandwiches with her children, chauffered Cub Scouts and Brownies, lay beside her husband at night — she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question — "Is this all?"

Betty Friedan

If women are supposed to be less rational and more emotional at the beginning of our menstrual cycle when the female hormone is at its lowest level, then why isn't it logical to say that, in those few days, women behave the most like the way men behave all month long?

Gloria Steinem

Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.

Bella Abzug

Recently thanks to Facebook I have been in contact with a number of people from my very distant past; friends that I grew up with through Elementary, Junior High and High School. For reasons unknown and for reasons known we lost touch and our lives moved on without each other.

There have been marriages, divorces and second chances at love.
There have been successful careers, entrepreneurs and the adventures of travel.
There have been mistakes, disappointments and too ... there have been dreams realized.

The reconnection has had me reflecting on that time in my life and to be honest the feelings are mixed. I was blessed with two best friends, Sue and Lisa, who were my foundation. No matter what kind of day it was I knew they were in my corner. We smoked our first cigarette together, we drank our first beer together, and we had our first toke together. We were also there for each other during the first crush, the first real boyfriend and of course the first broken heart. I was blessed with their friendship.

I also remember being painfully shy especially in High School. Being called upon in class always resulted in a blush of embarrassment, skipping school quickly became a favourite past time. There was always this feeling of not really belonging. I wasn’t one of the cool kids or the popular kids but I hung out on the fringes with them. There but not.

Was my experience in High School that different from most? Probably not.
Do I think about it? Nope, not till recently.
What time in my life do I think about the most? My Thirties! Now those were Good Times, Good Times!

About 4 weeks ago I was taking the mutt for a walk during a lovely little snow fall. You know the kind soft, wet, fluffy snowflakes drifting down from the sky. It was a beautiful evening! Until I stepped onto my neighbours patterned concrete driveway and fell like a ton of bricks . . . onto my right ankle. Snap Crackle Pop.

For those of you who watched the Flintstones growing up . . . I was Sassie trying to get home!

To make a long story short, I busted it up but good and will remain on crutches and in a cast until mid January.

Learning to rely on others has been an interesting experience and as with most bad incidents good can come out of it. On a personal level my husband has gained a better appreciation of all the “stuff” I do around here; my son has taken on new responsibilities which have caused him to grow as a person and become more self confident; and I am slowly learning how to be less of a control freak. On a broader level the importance of all public areas being barrier free has also hit home. For those with disabilities the smallest of tasks must be planned and co-ordinated.

It has taken me almost the entire four weeks to become comfortable with asking others to do for me. But now I’m getting pretty good at it.
“Oh honey while you are up would you mind . . . .”

Although, last night the movie “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane” was mentioned.

I have been battling lately with what this blog should be about. When I first created the blog it was to bring potential editors to my site, I had great hopes of being a syndicated columnist. A witty, well read, successful columnist who would find the humour in growing old and hitting menopause but alas after hundreds of mailings and many rejection letters (although they were very nice) my dream has not been fulfilled.

So where do I go from here?

My life has many aspects to it . . . I hit menopause when I was in my thirties and have been HOT ever since! I also adopted my incredible son in my thirties and have been on my toes ever since! My forties have been an awakening and continue to be so, every day I learn more on a spiritual level. My forties have recently given me a serious health challenge that needs to be addressed, my future depends on it.

I have always censored myself knowingly on this blog especially when it came to my family. I tried to stick to the funny or bizarre moments of my life. Always trying to keep friends, neighbours and family member’s names out of it . . . what if someone I knew actually read it ??? This was important to me particularly when it came to my son. He’s in Grade Four now and very computer savvy, what if one of his friends “googled” him and found my blog. I would never ever want to embarrass him in any way.

So who am I really?

I am a full time Mom to a child with “high needs” not special needs but definitely “high needs”. Parenting is a tough job, parenting a child with ADHD is even tougher; parenting a child who was adopted from an orphanage in Eastern Europe introduces elements that many simply don’t understand.
Who am I . . . a Mom, who doesn’t have all the answers.

I am a Software Consultant who is responsible for bringing in a certain income to sustain our financial goals. My clients have referred to me as the “Un-consultant” because I have a habit of telling the truth. Clients love me, consulting firms that hire me . . . not so much!
Who am I . . . unemployed . . . LOL just kidding landed a contract a few weeks ago.

I am a daughter. My Mum was, is a great Mum. A couple of years ago she had a TIA and passed out in the local shopping centre. She spent a couple of weeks in the hospital and since then has become a chosen SHUT IN. She will not go anywhere unless I take her. The tides have officially turned it is my turn to take care of her.
Who am I . . . a Daughter (it doesn’t get any simpler than that, I love her)

I am a wife. 21 Freaking Years! Met him when I was 16, we were engaged at 21 and married at 23. There were times that I didn’t think we would make it but here we are. We joke about how we can’t afford to get divorced . . . there’s no way the other one is going to get half. We increased our insurance policies a year ago and I swear neither one of us has had a decent night’s sleep since . . . hard to with one eye open.
Who am I . . . happy to be a little boring and content.

In my Twenties . . . I turned prematurely grey.

In my Thirties . . . I began menopause.

Now in my Forties . . . it looks like I have Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis.

My husband in all seriousness looked at me and said "You really have aged ahead of your time."

I would have hit him if making a fist wasn't going to hurt so much.

Apparently Rheumatoid Arthritis can be diagnosed at any point in your life however the majority are diagnosed between 40 and 60.

So far the whole aging experience has been somewhat of a nuisance. Yeah, my body is a few degress hotter than it used to be and not "hot" in a good way. Ok, I have become one with those extra few pounds. Wrinkles, yup got those too. Bifocals - check, but they are cool designer ones.

I'm really trying to take this news in my stride but the reality is I hurt.