Posted on 07/10/2018 12:17:25 PM PDT by Simon Green
A few months before my 42nd birthday, I was out to dinner with friends and found myself seated next to a well-known older male writer.
I happened to be in the final stages of finishing a proposal for a memoir about being a single woman over 40 without children, and was inwardly marveling at the timing of our encounter. I was a fan of his. Perhaps he might offer some wisdom? Words of encouragement?
As drinks were delivered I sketched the outline of the story: No one had prepared me for how exhilarating life could be on my own. I was traveling all the time, doing what I wanted, when I wanted, released from the fear of the clock that had dogged me through my 30s. Conversely, no one had warned me of the ways in which it would actually be difficult; my mother had been very ill, for instance, and part of the book was about caring for her.
No sooner had I finished than the famous writer placed his glass firmly on the white tablecloth, leaned back and declared: “Glynnis MacNicol, you have a terrible life!”
Not exactly the feedback I was hoping for.
He continued: “You’re all alone in the world, and have no one to help you.” He turned to my friends, dramatically interrupting their conversation. “Do you know how terrible this woman’s life is? She’s all by herself!”
My friends managed to snort back their drinks, barely. “But I’m fine,” I protested lightheartedly, hoping to return the discussion to writing. “I’m quite enjoying myself.”
He took a disbelieving sip of his drink. “I want to help you,” he said. He then instructed our server to wrap up his untouched steak and insisted I take it home.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I believe you.
For me, my kids are a great gateway to a lot of happy things.
I know that for others, that’s just not their bag.
Put me down as not believing a word of this.
I’m okay with the NYT encouraging its readers not to reproduce.
the famous writer placed his glass firmly on the white tablecloth, leaned back and declared: “Glynnis MacNicol, you have a terrible life!”
I do believe that people can have happy lives without children. It's not for everyone.
I’ve seen her picture. I know why she is alone.
neither of my kids have kids and they seem fine with it. It’s not my place to tell them to have children- i am not the one taking care of them!
Why are you trying to convince others that you’re happy?
Could it be that you yourself don’t believe it?
Sounds like she’s trying to convince herself.
Yeah ... Complete fabrication, IMO.
Man that sounds like a riveting read.
I read that, this morning.
She had to go on and on and on and on trying to convince us of her happiness after her first comment was along the lines of, “I no longer care what anyone thinks of me.”
*SNORT*
Maybe it is because she writes an article every 6 months telling everyone how great it is
Wait until you are 70 or 80 in failing health, and then write the final chapter.
you should not have kids just so you have free nursing care. Thats selfish imho.
Right...this strikes me as the “I’M NOT MAD!!!!!!!” variety of comments that you usually get from an ex-girlfriend who just got dumped. If someone told me, “you don’t like water or breathing oxygen, trust me”, I’d just say “um...ok cool” and just go about my business.
Can a Glynnis-free life truly be happy?
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