“Hope combined with action is the only thing that will bring you contentment.”
The rain was light but steady when I went to bed. During the day it had gotten heavy at times, and I had a flooded floor in the kitchen when I got back from my errands as I had left the back door open. It took a mop. By afternoon the humidity was thick and stifling so I put on the air. The house felt wonderful and I slept until 10, unusual for me. I turned the air off this morning as the day is cooler and less humid than it has been. The sun is even breaking through and the day is getting lighter. I didn’t begrudge the rain. We needed it.
Once I wanted to be Annie Oakley, a horse riding sharp shooting cowgirl who also happened to be the sheriff. I didn’t realize it at the time but she wasn’t stereotypical which is what I think drew me to her. Many of my favorite characters were girls and women who were smart, brave and daring. I loved Lois Lane though I hated those tiny hats, the suits she wore and the purse she always carried. She was dogged in her pursuit of a story and the identity of Superman, and she never let being a woman stand in her way though she did end up being saved time and time again by Superman. TV in the 50’s had few strong women characters. Most, like June Cleaver, wore dresses, pearls and aprons and had dinner ready when their husbands came home from work. Alice Kramden managed to break out a bit. She wore the apron but she was never cowered by Ralph.
As I was growing up, I knew I’d go to college. No one in my family had, but I just knew I would. It was part of the plan I had hatched when I was young, as young as ten or eleven. I’d go to college then I’d travel the world. There was neither doubt nor hesitation in my mind.
When I graduated from college, my mother told that she and my father had never envisioned that one of their kids would go to college. They were both thrilled and proud that I had. Earlier, though, they weren’t so thrilled and proud when I had announced the next part of my plan, traveling the world. My father forbade me to accept the Peace Corps invitation to go to Ghana. I mean really, here I was twenty-one, a few months from graduating, and my father actually thought he could stop me from doing what I wanted. If I hadn’t been so angry, I would have laughed at the absurdity. I ignored him, and he knew I was going with or without his support so he begrudgingly accepted my decision and gave his support.
My life has worked out even better than I had envisioned. It has been so much more.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: absurdity, AC, Alice Kramden, Annie Oakley, college, Ghana, humidity, June Cleaver, life plans, Lois Lane, Peace Corps, rain, stereotypical women, stubbornness, sun, travel
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
July 17, 2014 at 12:57 pm
We’ve had rather pleasant weather over here lately, a bit cloudy from time to time but warm and with a nice breeze. Today was much the same but without the wind so our afternoon walk was rather short because of the horse flies and deer flies, they do have a nice bite 🙂
The women I remember from tv when I grew up are Lucy, Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Burnett. Strange but I really can’t remember any Swedish ones 🙂 They did manage by themselves but perhaps not in the way Lois Lane did 🙂
I had a wish but no plan and that’s just as well since I ended up working at Volvo for over twent years, that would have been a sad plan even if I did like working there 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
July 17, 2014 at 1:41 pm
Christer,
Today is lovely: cool and sunny, low humidity. I have moved to the deck.
You remember great women characters. Carol Burnett had the best sketches, Lucy was hysterical and Mary made it on her own. I loved them too.
Sometimes you keep changing your plan as you change. I just happened to pick some which grew with me.
July 17, 2014 at 1:33 pm
I never saw June as cowered by Ward. She had a way of getting him to see things his way while still letting him think he wore the pants. Your Mom taught me a bit about this. 😉 June was good to her sons but didn’t take any guff. I preferred her to Donna Reed. Her children were horrible. I also read that June wore the pearls to hide a scar on her throat. As far as TV moms go, she is still a favorite. Jamie and I have been watching Lassie reruns and the early ones with Jeff, Gramps and Mrs. Miller are very good. She’s another no nonsense Mom.
July 17, 2014 at 1:39 pm
Erin,
June just did everything expected and usually agreed with whatever Ward had to say. When I said cowered, I also meant they were all in the traditional role of women in the 50’s. I found this, “In the show, Billingsley often could be seen doing household chores wearing pearls and earrings. The pearls, which in real-life were Billingsley’s trademark, were in turn her idea to have her alter ego wear on television. The actress had what she termed “a hollow” on her neck and thought that wearing a strand of white pearls would lighten it up for the cameras.”
July 17, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Kat,
I think I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, so I’ll just wave and listen to some tunes.
Lori and the Crew
July 18, 2014 at 10:14 am
Lori,
Stay away from any drinks or foods labeled!
July 18, 2014 at 10:44 am
Hi Kat,
Late to the party again. Electrician was here for several hours and then there was laundry.
I think I’m with Lori. Waving.
Enjoy the day.
July 18, 2014 at 10:46 am
Thanks, Caryn! I’ll do my best to have a good day.
Waving right back!
July 19, 2014 at 12:29 am
One of my daughters once said they never thought of college as an option, just another requirement, like high school. She felt they were expected to go to college and graduate, like their parents and grand-parents. And they did! One lived in Ireland, the other (PCV) in Bangladesh. Fly away!
I honor you for having lived such a full life!
Most gorgeous summer day in upstate New York… I despoiled it by playing golf!
July 19, 2014 at 10:03 am
Jay,
None of my family had gone to college. My mother was one of 8, and they all graduated from high school and finished there. My parents never pushed me but just accepted I knew what I wanted to do. None of my 3 siblings finished college; two started but never made it beyond the first year.
Thank you! I have been blessed, and it all started when I vowed to finish college then see the world. Your daughters too have seen the world.
Despite not being a golfer, I wouldn’t ever say despoiled to describe a round of golf. You were outside and getting the full benefit of the day. That’s just perfect!
July 20, 2014 at 12:30 am
Golf can enhance or despoil a lovely day. But the old saying goes, your worst day on the golf course is better than your best day at work. Amen! I’ve played for 56 (!!) years, and can take the good with the bad. As a friend, age 75, says, “We’re still playing on the right side of the grass!”
July 20, 2014 at 10:12 am
Jay,
I have good friends who are golfers so I know of the joy of the sport from them.