Tuesday, May 02, 2006

I Know I'm not the Only One

I’m like a lot of women;
Old enough for adulthood to be difficult to avoid,
Still adjusting to the idea I’m not 20 any more,
(isn’t everyone?)
my family is crazy but they make for good stories,
my pets never do what I tell them to,
and I like my job but wince when I answer my home phone,
“Hello, This is (business name), can I help you?”.

I want to travel extensively, live in many different countries
and somehow also buy a house and create a firmly rooted home.
Haven't figured out how to do both at once, as of yet.
I’ll let you know if I come up with a solution.

Today, women are theortically able to “have it all.” There are a lot of options - which is great - but womanhood is a thing constantly being redefined in the world we live in - which is confusing as hell.

I feel like I should know about my car AND be able to crochet. I refuse to be ashamed of the aprons circa 1955 that are hanging in my kitchen. My brilliant pot roast makes me no less a feminist. I have a successful career and don’t think of myself as domestic (although I did make my own curtains...). Maybe I want to have a man in my life AND remain completely independent.

Most of all, I want other women in my life. I can’t tell you how many women I hit it off with who say, “I never get along with women! All my friends are men.” How many times have you heard that? Well, my guy friends are amazing and I love them, but this is ridiculous. We women need each other. Even the most sensitive guy will never understand what it is to sometimes be treated differently just because you have (or don’t have) boobs. And the hormonal and psychological weight of carting a uterus around... well, obviously there are some things only women understand.

Only women can really understand the complex dichotomy of being a woman in the 21st century! (are there other women out there who put their videogame on pause to run into the kitchen and check if the bread is done baking?)

A lot of websites didn’t have what I was looking for. I’m not interested in reclaiming the word “bitch” for womankind (mind you, I’m not criticizing those who are) and I get queasy every time I go to a “women’s interest” website that has articles on how to tell if your man is cheating on you along with recipes for easy casseroles that feed a family of six. So this is my solution. I’m throwing myself in the mix. I’m going to share things I’m interested in and what I think - in all it’s glorious incongruous variety.

I picked the name “dame” because it felt like a nice balance between being a lady and being a tough broad - It seems to me a dame can be both.

3 comments:

  1. This is one of the best profiles I've read. Very interesting and well put. This is my first visit to your blog. I started here and am now anxious to read more of what you have to say.

    P.S. BTW, I have a 1950s apron hanging in my kitchen--the other several dozen are up in attic storage. : )

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  2. You are so cool. I know, I know, third comment on your site in one day, but I can't help but smirk with every post I read of yours.

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  3. Thank you, Taryn! I appreciate it. I'm sorry it took me so long to respond. But I love the comments and it's always nice to have a sense that, you know, someone's actually enjoying reading this thing. ;)

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