You're How Old?

I have a friend I met in a history class at Emory University. She went on to law school and embarked on a career in patent law. She got married and they added two boys and a girl to the mix of their lives. After the second child, she decided to take a break and be a stay at home mom which is something that she never regrets. About the time that the youngest entered high school, she started to try to get back into her profession to discover that she was considered, in her mid 40s, too old and out of touch. Now during her time as a mom, she kept up on the changes in the law and she also kept herself current on copyright and trademark as well. She had the skills needed. She had the references. She just wasn't the right "fit" for any company.

Personally I have mad editing and organizational skills. I was a really good stage manager and I can still use those skills to knock projects into shape. I have been applying for various jobs over the years that, given the chance, I would be very good at. I am also one heck of a researcher. But because I have been 'out of the game' because I have raised my daughter and people don't think I have the contacts that might make me valuable, I find that my resume is used to prove that someone in-house should be promoted.

I have been told that I should limit my resume to things I have done since 2000 since going back to the 1980 makes me look old. I have been working since the late 70s thank you very much and I don't put those items on there.

Doctor Who is finishing up its first season with Peter Capaldi who is shaping up to be one of my favorites. Fandom had several kinds of kittens about the age of Mr. Capaldi. He was too old to play the Doctor. Apparently everyone forgot the age of the first three. Capaldi is knocking it out of the park.

Older actors and actresses are finding ways to work but they are limited by the roles out there for them. It is better than it was but still there is a serious problem with ageism in the entertainment industry. Men do have it easier than the women.

Last night on Bill Maher he discussed ageism in reference to that fact that the Democratic Party wouldn't even consider Jerry Brown for a Presidential run. Even though Governor Brown did a pretty kick-ass job of turning California around.

Which got me to thinking about my friend who did all that work and extra work to stay current and is currently an assistant manager at a Best Buy rather than partner at a law firm.

Which lead me to writing this essay.

So if anyone knows a publisher looked for a stage manager type with research skills, I'm over here.

I am grateful for those who look past my age and how I look and see what I can do.