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: Youre 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 womans life is? Shes all by herself!
My friends managed to snort back their drinks, barely. But Im fine, I protested lightheartedly, hoping to return the discussion to writing. Im 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 noticed that the “well-known older male writer” apparently was there alone, since no mention is made of a spouse it’s likely he isn’t married. What’s good for the gander should also be good for the goose, should it not?
I’m better off being single. Women were put on this earth to have kids. A small consolation: hopefully she’s somebody’s crazy aunt.
Why do we need to leave a "legacy"?
“Aging is miserable without the joy of children and grandchildren.”
And what about those whose children and grandchildren live thousands of miles away?
They often depend on friends,and it works just fine for them.
.
Glynnis MacNicol, you have a terrible life! .... Youre all alone in the world, and have no one to help you .... Do you know how terrible this womans life is? Shes all by herself! .... I want to help you.
That, and if he really did say these things, it comes across as sarcasm.
Glynnis MacNicol is the former Media Editor at Business Insider. She was formerly a founding editor of Mediaite.com, the media news, opinion, and rankings site launched by former MSNBC anchor/GM Dan Abrams in July 2009
maybe no one cares?.
“Women were put on this earth to have kids. “
\
—
We were?
What should be done to us when we are past our shelf life?
.
I think she needs new friends. Anybody that insists you must be miserable is actually miserable themselves and doesn’t want the people around them to be happier than them.
Back in my day, I believe "those" guys were called "Confirmed bachelors. In polite company anyway!!
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Good for you! I'm doing something similar. No kids, one nephew who won't need anything from me, so why not let the animals benefit.
I occasionally wondered if I should have had kids then after .0003 seconds the feeling passes and I forget about it again for another ten years.
AND THEN THE TABLECLOTH CLAPPED
“For too many people, family is simply not a priority for them until it’s too late.”
—
Many of these kids went across the country when they were in their 20s,their parents in their 40s-———old age was not a concern to any of them.
It often has nothing to do with priorities,it has to do with jobs.
How much do you think she makes writing short articles like this?
I haven’t a clue.
.
I have five close women friends who never wanted to have kids.
48, 52, 60, 64, 66
All are very successful and it didn’t take a man to make them successful.
Two are 9-hot, 5-crazy.
Because unlike you they don’t believe you are the center of the universe?
Because people who are happy are too busy being happy to write essays trying to convince everyone (and probably themselves) how happy they are.
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