An Invincible Summer - A Woman's Journey

Business is very slow and I don't feel confident that my contract will be renewed next year. I am, therefore, for the first time in 35 years, applying for jobs. At 57 this is a humbling experience. I am very qualified for most accounting positions, except those requiring CPA or bachelor degrees. I got my degree in the school of life and done OK for myself. Back to the humbling part......each time I send out the resume there is a part of me that wishes I could condense my work experience into a shorter timeframe but I can't get away from the fact that my first Payroll job was in 1985. Having sent out at least 25 resumes, thus far this is what I have heard........ Ah well, not completely unexpected. I forge forward.....I've got a number of good earning years in front of me. I need something to fill more of my time. I'd really like to be socking away a little bit of dough for retirement. Mostly, I'd love a little help paying my $1000.00 per month health insurance bill...

How old are you and, more importantly, how old do you feel? I had a fun talk the other day with a shopkeeper in a funky little clothing shop. She was a bit older than me, perhaps 60, with a cute hair cut with bangs and shoulder length. We exchanged greetings and then, out of the blue, I inquired if I could ask her a personal question. I'm so curious about this whole aging thing but it feels mysterious to me. I see gals my age in their Talbots or conservative clothing...their fancy jewelry and cropped hairdos and I cannot relate. It's not that I don't think they are beautiful. It just seems as if I am still waiting to grow up. I love my jeans, anything kinda BOHO, casual shoes and funky jewelry....but mostly I still love my long hair. I asked her if she ever wondered if there was a time when it was no longer appropriate. She got it!! She knew exactly what I was talking about. Nobody wants to be that really strange person from early memories that reminded you of...