A friend of mine once told me that I think about age the way that people in Southern California think about weight. She was maybe kidding a little bit, but in the two years since, I can’t help but wonder if she’s accurate. I do sort of use age to categorize, make assumptions about, put people into a box that helps me feel like I understand them.
So here’s what’s interesting. A year ago, I had just started my first salaried job and was just learning the art of becoming friends and intimate co-workers with 50-something women .The wide majority of the people I worked with in Alaska were 50-something women. Women who taught for years, retired, and wanted back in the education game. Women who used to work for the democratic Lt. Governor and had to look elsewhere for work when Palin was elected. Women who write poetry and books. At first, I was hesitant and intimidated to be working side-by-side with these women. But they did more than take me under their wings, they made sure I knew the course myself. In fact, one of my closer friends in Juneau ended up being one of those 50-something women.
And last night, Greg & I made friends with a 50-something ex-pat couple who go to the Spanish school. I’m shockingly decent at keeping up an intelligent conversation with 50-something women now. And enjoying myself while doing it, rather than feeling like the age difference makes us OTHER from each other.
I am indebted to Juneau. I just had to come to the other side of the Western Hemisphere to realize it.
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1 comment:
hmmm. maybe that's why we're such good friends. p keeps telling me that i act like i'm 52. (to which i usually respond in kind with some teen number.) :-)
also interesting that latin americans tend to have a very different concept of age than we do...none of this freshmen (and women) don't hang out with seniors type crap.
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