I was watching the retro tv channel the other day when it struck me how far we have come as women. When I was a little girl there were few options presented to us, we planned to be a teacher, nurse, secretary or find a husband and have children. I wondered why I couldn't be an astronaut but then I always did dream big. Little did we know the 80's were waiting for us with a warm, big shouldered embrace, shiny red lipstick and chants of 'women can do anything'. It was during the 80's I realised I was not limited to the choices my mom had and really could choose to be anything I set my mind to.
My mom was a loyal watcher of The Mary Tyler Moore show and I remember the many evenings I spent sitting on the couch, freshly bathed and talced hoping to be overlooked, forgotten and not sent to bed for just 5 more minutes as the familiar theme music filled the air....
Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Mary Richards is probably the most influential woman of my childhood...in fact, more influential than my own mom simply because Mary moved forward, was ambitious and achieved what she went after. To me, Mary Richard represented what 30 would be like for me.
Two other women were prominent on the airwaves when I was a child and I always thought they were old. They represented 50. 50! It seemed like a million light years away! Now with 40 looming, waiting, always there, ever present and asking me 'What have you managed to accomplish?'...50 doesn't seem so old. In the 70's on the other hand, 50 was old!
And then there's Maude!
Those were the days!
At the time I really had no idea how old these women were, as an adult I now know they were 50. Mothers of grown children, grandmothers of small children and taking on some of the most important issues of the decade. Thanks to them we've come a long way baby!
Have a fabulous day!
20 comments:
I am 40 and I have never been happier and more confident. And, for the most part, I never felt judged being a female lawyer. (Sadly, there were was one partner who did make comments.)
I'm a few months from 30... and I truly feel like the best parts of life are still waiting...
This was a great post! And happy Monday to you!
I really got to know who I was/wanted to be in my 30s. Now that I'm in my early 40s I have a solid sense and comfort of who I am. I plan on life only getting better from this point.
Great post ~ have a wonderful week!
Jo
I actually work at a lumber yard and did sales for a while. I don't know how many times I got completely ignored or asked if there was a guy around that could help them. The only thing you can do is be darn good at your job and show them that you are just as good as any man. :)
thank you for sharing this!~ I loved the walk down memory lane!
Great post! At 52 I say yes, your observations are spot on.
Best,
Colleen
Inspiring post!!! I think today's women really have come along way.. amny women in their 50s,40s and even 60s look much better than some 30ish and even 20ish women. The best is yet to come... I can't wait!!! Happy Monday my friend..HHL
It's all how you look at life girl. I'll be 60 in two years! There was a time that I thought I'd be read for the home at that age but as long a people keep makin' my son mad and askin' if I'm his wife, it just ain't that bad! Heeehehehehe!
God bless ya and have a wonderfully blessed day sweetie!!!
50 IS fab-u-lous!!
Jo (above) pretty much took the words right out of my mouth. I am really enjoying my 40's. I am so much more confident of who I am and where I am going.
~ Tracy
Haven't we though!! I just LOVE Edith!! What a smart woman!!
I'm 47. Thanks for the stroll down memory land. I wanted to be Mary Richards too-with her great job, apartment and neighbors. Dear old Dad loved Archie Bunker, but Mom and I knew that Edith ran the show.
Makes me wish Nick at Nite still aired these shows. I turned 40 this year and thus far, it's the best year yet. Confidence has finally arrived! Thanks for the memories!
I love this post.
And I love the theme song to Mary Tyler Moore.
My sister and I used to watch Mary Tyler Moore on Nick at Nite during the Summers. My mother would explain to us how Mary was a "career girl" and that in those days not many women went to work in offices unless they were a secretary. She said we could, obviously, be whatever we wanted when we grew up.
Looking back, I can see how that show really was groundbreaking in a lot of ways. i still love it when I see it on TV Land.
This is a great way of looking at it Miss Princess, the post is fabulous. I love the Mary Richards idea, it makes perfect sense.
Sending smiles,
tp
I love MTM! Have you ever seen "That Girl", a show from the 60s with Marlo Thomas? She was kind of Mary's predecessor- a sassy girl trying to make it as an actress in New York, she had a boyfriend but focused on her career rather than marriage. The show was before my time but someone gave me the DVD box set for Christmas and I fell in love!
The Mary Tyler Moore show was my favorite show when I was a little girl. The reruns came on Nick @ Night. My parents thought it was strange, but I still love old tv shows.
Thank you for your email! I've missed you and am checking in with a few of my favorite people today! I've been caught up with life the past few months, mostly just nose to the grindstone and very tired in process! I do miss blogging and with fall coming up, I hope to start a bit again, even if it is only once a week or so. Lots to talk about since I haven't posted for so long! I like your idea of having a mutual friends feature on our blogs. I often find that I enjoy other blogs my blog friends like as well.
hugs,
shari
oops, by the way, thank you for the linked in invite. I no longer have an account with them. My company does not support that and so I deleted my account. I do have Facebook, although I don't use it very often, but that could change! Shari Bradley is my FB account and if you friend me, I'll accept of course ;)
Post a Comment