In 2000, Hillary was running for senator. While she ran around NY state campaigning, the wisecracking journalist and historian Gail Collins followed her. Collins wrote:
Gail Collins, NY Times editor and writer, best-selling author.
“The thing I remember most about those trips from Oneonta to Cooperstown to Horseheads — besides the tedium — was the intense reaction she got from middleaged women, who yelled and waved and begged for autographs,” says Collins. “They were the ones who remembered what it was like when the newspapers had separate ‘help wanted’ columns for men and women, who needed a male cosigner when they got their first car loans. I suspected that a lot of them, like me, still had credit cards in their husbands’ names because that was just the way things worked when they first began to charge stuff…
“…Hillary Clinton represented the possibility of a second act. The country was full of women who had come of age with the women’s revolution, who had tried to have it all, raising children while having good — but maybe not spectacular — careers.
Now there was the about-to-retire first lady, in her new persona, suggesting they might be able to start a whole new episode in life.
“Driving around through upstate New York, Clinton was in the home territory of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who had broken the old rules about staying home, rearing the kids and then retiring to a rocking chair. Stanton (1815-1902) in particular argued that instead of the end, middle age could be a jumping-off point for adventure. You could do all the things you weren’t able to do when the children were young — you could travel, make speeches, start newspapers, lead rallies.
You could do things no women had done before in the public arena, because you looked mature and trustworthy and people could see you had paid your dues.
“The prospect was so exciting, women began writing paeans to menopause as a time for ‘superexaltation.'”
I enjoyed the underlying message of this book, that women have always been strong, broken barriers, forged new pathways. How wonderful and comforting to think women were discussing the possibility of midlife accomplishment in the late-eighteen hundreds in America.
As a Female-American in my seventh decade, I know from personal experience how far we women have come. I remember growing up in a sexist society, and am grateful it’s changing. But now, I’m pissed off that it’s ageist, and all my old buttons are being pushed.
Let’s fight ageism together. Instead of moaning about the ravages of old age, let’s celebrate our superexaltation. We “look mature and trustworthy” and people can see we’ve paid our dues. This can open a lot of doors.
I feel stronger now. I sense the possibilities, the new opportunity for the attainment of goals in older age, for the pursuit of dreams in the second half of life. It’s what our foremothers dreamed of and fought for. I want to make them proud. So I’m writing and learning piano and started a Writers’ Guild in my city. These are my dreams. What are yours? Are you pursuing them? Any progress to tell us about? Share your thoughts, so we can all be lifted up. Here’s to the dream, Sisters.
I’m older than most of my friends, and went through menopause first. I’ve let them know they will doubt it for about two years before they throw away the old panties. You will love the hair on your body disappearing except for your moustache and goatee.
I was the first woman outside insurance adjuster in Florida, and worked the job for a long time. I found writing is more difficult that piecing together other peoples tragedies. It is tough putting a story out there and wait for judgement. So I’ll do it some more.
You are awesome, Toni. I loved your book, and I love your down to earth strength and wisdom. You are an inspiration.
It was clear long before I retired from working in public education, that there was “life out there”…so I prepared myself for an “encore career” several years before actually retiring.
Traveling and teaching are passions for me, and I figured out a way to get paid to do both. At 55, I went to San Francisco to become a certified Tour Director. Six years later, I officially retired from my “day job” and began working with student travel groups.
Six years later…I am now working for an adult educational travel company and I spent a big chunk of my summer “on the road.” At 67, I am one of the youngest travelers in the groups I lead.
This summer’s agenda included a Great Lakes Cruise…and six nights on Mackinac Island. Not a bad gig!
My “dream” was to work in the travel and tourism industry right here in Michigan…and this year, that dream has come true.
Now, I am in the process of “dreaming bigger”…and I would encourage everyone else to do the same!
Man, Sue, you’re an inspiration! And there’s a whole lesson in your comment. Here’s what you said:
1. While working, be thinking of the next phase.
2. Learn/decide what you’re passionate about, or at least hugely interested in.
3. Be willing to get new credentials, or update old ones.
4. Try stuff. Sign on. Give it a go.
5. Assess, reconsider.
6. Raise sights.
Bravo, girlfriend!
Wow!
Thanks for your encouragement, Lynne!
If a guy can weigh in here, it’s not just women who should embrace the new freedom — casting off the corporate shackles. To guys: Golf, if you wish, but get involved in your community. There are plenty of people who need your help. Putter in your workshop, but repair furniture for those who can’t replace it. Show kids the joy of making something with their hands. [Stepping off soapbox].
The bulk of my writing is a paean to ‘second chances’ and ‘new beginnings’. As an ex-engineer, I celebrate the opportunity to fully explore the next 10-20 years (I’m 70). Together, we can make ‘boomerdom’ another social force to be reckoned with.
Hey Dennis thanks for weighing in, I would love to see what you write about. And in my experience when men retire, I think the happiest ones are the ones who already had something going on, hobbies and activities that they already enjoyed before they retired.
I never thought that time of my life would feel so free inside and almost invisible from the outside. Earlier this year I became a Yoga Teacher. For the first time in my life I have finally found a ‘career’ that fits. I love being able to explore new parts of myself, and am at a loss that society is ready to see me as ‘done.’
I can’t stand watching Hilary Clinton in their cross hairs. So many say that they don’t trust her because of this scandal or that, but what they are really saying that they don’t understand or trust a smart and ambitious woman (and at her age!)
While we have come along way, there is still a lot more work to be done.
Heidi, I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment awaiting approval until a few days later. First, congrats on your reinvention and finding/making a career that fits. Your fourth sentence is a heartbreaker, on behalf of all of us. I keep thinking that maybe with as many of us older peeps as there are right now, due to the baby boom, we might be able to change minds forever. I tell myself it’s just sad because we’re on the leading edge, but it will be better for our kids because we broke the mold and demonstrated healthy, forward-looking living in the second half as much as the first…
And as for HRC, yes, she has a target on her back (maybe more than metaphorically due to the enmity stirred up by you-know-who), but from everything I’ve read about her, she’s aware of all the dynamics. Quite a historical figure. PS Here’s my review of Hard Choices: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/964796622
Welcome to AnyShinyThing, which I sometimes mistype as AnyWhinyThing 😉
Ouch! You reminded me of all the ugly, sexist realities of my younger years—yes, the ones I fought against, and ultimately conquered. I’m so relieved that I live in this era, and can dream of following my creative drive and go where ever it leads me! Ageism irritates me, and probably holds me back, but I have more resources now than I did in those days, when I used to cringe and apologize for wanting to do some of the things only guys (being the heads of households) were allowed to do!
Ain’t it the truth! In 1983 I went to work in the HR office of a school district. My boss told me that a neighboring district had only just recently stopped their practice of using pink or blue paper on which to print job vacancy announcements. I also remember being one of three women in my professional group that consisted of about 45 men (central office school administrators.) Totally different now.
Lynne, you remind me that we have come a long, long way and that I have years to go before I can rest on my laurels (and my behind!). Thank you for that!
Peggy
We’re so blessed, aren’t we, Peggy?
Lynne, I love your mission to change perspective on aging from a time of physical limitations, “out to pasture” mentality to one of empowerment and freedom. Indeed these later decades are filled with promise. Thanks for the reminder!
Hi Kathy! It stuns me how long we humans get to live, if we’re lucky anyway. No sense apologizing for that great gift. Let’s use it!
What a great reminder of how far we’ve come, Lynne. I had forgotten about the “segregated” help-wanted ads. And how difficult it was for a woman to get credit in her own name. Like you, I’m pissed at the ageism we’re facing on some fronts, but by and large, I wouldn’t trade being this age for anything. The future does look bright, and I’m looking forward to growing my line of Boomer Haiku greeting cards (along with other products in the future) as my “retirement career.” I just signed my first wholesale customer this past week (with two retail stores), and another is about to place an order. You’re never too old to start something new!
Roxanne, I’m so excited for you!! We’ll be able to say we knew you when. Very best wishes!!
Roxanne, I’m with you. Kind of a surprise incarnation at a later age. I have reinvented myself over the years, and at 60 realized how much time I had spent making other people’s dreams and didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. Not that my life had been boring, after my second divorce I hit the streets protesting and marching for civil and reproductive rights. I see them being chipped away again. I never dreamed that I would write books. Lynne reviewed my first one, Old Baggage, http://tinyurl.com/jo9zqpq, and now it has been re-edited and for sale. I write about women over 60 stepping up and sometimes out. It is things like this blog that told me I could. Now I’m marketing, with the second book in edit, and starting the third. So many stories to tell.
I appreciate your positive attitude, Lynne. I was just going to write “if we’ve got our health, we need to make the most of it,” but then I thought of Stephen Hawking and reminded myself that we need to make the most of whatever we’ve got. That’s not easy, but it wasn’t easy when we were younger, either. Laziness, apathy, and indifference occur at any age. We seem to need constant reminders to get up and go. So I’m delighted to have you to cheer me on as I work daily on staying involved in this gift called life. What am I doing that I’ve not done before? Well, the SPEAKING OF “OLD” Facebook group that first brought us together is on that list. So is an ever-increasing interest in mentoring other writers and in using my own writing skills to benefit worthy causes. Of late, I’ve been working on a script for a Readers Theater presentation I’ve organized to bring attention to New Choices Career Development, a program designed to help women overcome obstacles and reboot their lives. (http://newchoiceslancaster.org). And there’s hope that our Gracie may qualify as a therapy dog, so I’m applying to do that, a dream I’ve had for a long time, but never had a pup with the right temperament. Onward and upward!
Sandy, all of your activities inspire me right back. And good point about Hawking. Did you see the movie about him? In spite of great difficulty, he just keeps on going. So inspiring.