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I’m in My 40s, Child-Free and Happy. Why Won’t Anyone Believe Me?
The New York Times ^ | 07/05/18 | Glynnis MacNicol

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 ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: allaboutme; genderwars; lookatme; mememememe; sadoldlady; trends
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To: All
So if this woman wants to live alone,and quite possibly die alone,that's her business. I really don't care. As for me,my daughter stopped by today with my two little granddaughters (5 & 2 years old) they came running in the kitchen door yelling Pop Pop! Pop Pop!,and I'll be damned if I would have it any other way.
141 posted on 07/10/2018 5:03:47 PM PDT by 4yearlurker ("There stands mother under the oleanders,open the windows." A dying cowboys last words,1879.)
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To: Simon Green

I am happy that this selfish, bratty woman has no children. Kids deserve better. But, no, I don’t believe she’s happy.


142 posted on 07/10/2018 5:48:03 PM PDT by Pollster1 ("Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed")
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To: Simon Green

Just wait, honey.


143 posted on 07/10/2018 9:00:40 PM PDT by Bellflower (Who dares believe Jesus? He says absolutely amazing things, which few dare consider.)
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To: Berlin_Freeper
Today I took my child rock climbing.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/42433613155_427cdf39f8_h.jpg
144 posted on 07/11/2018 1:33:41 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Our daughter got hired for a TV show. They hired 100 kids for 85 euros a day. The first day they all get filmed storming the stage. Then the second day (which they have to wear the same clothes for) they start getting asked unscripted questions and depending on how well they answer is how long they participate on the show.

She danced twice before on TV but this is a good thing.


145 posted on 07/11/2018 3:01:25 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Instructions are to wear Autumn clothing because that is when the TV show is aired. Told my wife:Go. Mall. Buy.


146 posted on 07/11/2018 3:05:40 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Starts Monday.


147 posted on 07/11/2018 3:10:57 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (alea iacta est)
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To: Simon Green; Gamecock; SaveFerris; FredZarguna; PROCON; Army Air Corps; KC_Lion; CopperTop
a proposal for a memoir about being a single woman over 40 without children

Wow! I'll have to put that right on my reading list! Hope it has lots of exclamation points!!!

I may have to get someone to ghost-read it for me!

Maybe Yuri Testikov or Alton Benes can write a forward? Or she can put in a chapter about an affair with either or both of them? Or with J. Peterman? Yes!!! Where's Lipman? Must miss!!

148 posted on 07/11/2018 3:16:29 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: Autonomous User; Gamecock
"..I’ve seen her picture. I know why she is alone.."

Yes, it's Noreen!
She's been having "trouble" for a long time. d;^)

149 posted on 07/11/2018 4:21:01 AM PDT by CopperTop (Outside the wire it's just us chickens. Dig?)
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To: A_perfect_lady
I'm sure you have "helped shape them."

I had a high school English teacher that I really did not like at all. I would have said I hated her guts back then. I always made "D's" and "F's" in English classes. I even had to take three English courses in my last two years of high school just to graduate in the "General" curriculum.

I have had this paragraph on my facebook profile for several years:

In spite of all of the falderal with high school English, numerous times through my rewarding career in telecommunications, as a Senior Technician and currently as a Program Manager I have been thankful for the by rote drilling of Latin and Greek roots, prefixes and suffixes in Mrs. Forbes' English class.

I later discovered that someone else had created "The Olive Forbes Word of the Day" fan page on Facebook.

Even now, as an old man, I want to giggle inside when I think about how I hated her then and appreciate her so much now.

150 posted on 07/11/2018 12:36:42 PM PDT by higgmeister
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To: higgmeister

That’s awesome! I’ve done some Latin & Greek roots, but not nearly enough. I should do more.


151 posted on 07/11/2018 1:43:21 PM PDT by A_perfect_lady
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To: Simon Foxx
Trust me, anyone who has lived any part of THAT reality understands INSTANTLY what Bob Grant meant when he made that statement.

While I enjoyed Bob immensely, I would never, ever, in a million years take life advice from him. He was a supreme pessimist, after all. He was also a pro-abort and mainly because he felt that it limited the number of dirtbags in society. While he was an amusing character and right about many things, he was also a misanthrope and I would not follow him down that path. If poor life decisions led him there, then that's also on him.
152 posted on 07/11/2018 2:16:37 PM PDT by Antoninus ("In Washington, swamp drain you.")
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To: dsc
I’ve had people, and I’ve had no people. People is better.

Exactly. And the best is when they're *your people*. There's something inexpressibly beautiful about seeing people who wouldn't be here but for your own "fiat" serving God, serving neighbor, and navigating the snares of the world. There's nothing else like it. You are truly taking part in the divine act of creation.
153 posted on 07/11/2018 2:21:50 PM PDT by Antoninus ("In Washington, swamp drain you.")
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To: Antoninus

*lol* Yup, I don’t think Bob Grant would disagree with your assessment of him as a “misanthrope.”

(You comment also reminded me of Florence King, who penned the “Misanthrope’s Corner” opinion piece in every National Review magazine decades ago, when it was still a reliably conservative voice......)


154 posted on 07/11/2018 3:09:07 PM PDT by Simon Foxx
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To: Antoninus

“You are truly taking part in the divine act of creation.”

Children and grandchildren are a blessing.


155 posted on 07/12/2018 10:19:02 AM PDT by dsc (Our system of government cannot survive one-party control of communications.)
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