The State of My World

It is cool today in Chini Town. I spent the night tossing and turning worrying about whether my lessons are working with the students or not and with a conversation I had with a very good friend of mine, my best friend about life. I issue is this. We were skypeing with each other and we got into a tussle about something I can't even remember. Nothing serious. But I said you have way too much time on your hands you need something to do. Well she bristled at that and reminded me that she has plenty to do that she has her painting and her website and her landscaping and half a dozen other projects she is involved with that are furthering her profession as an art educator. So last night I thought about it and felt uncomfortable with my flippant remarks to her. I was joking but in reality this is no joking matter and I think I need to weigh in on this if nothing more than to be clear about what is really at stake here. She is right. She has a multitude of meaningful things she is doing to stay active and involved with her world. What is not happening for her and for many of us over 50 is gainful employment in this woeful economy. One of the reasons I left the States is because I couldn't find work. My younger counterparts didn't seem to be suffering too much in a crushed economy, yet the older fellas of the business were scrambling to find work. This is my beef, that, in America the workable life span of a contributing member of society spans 30 years. From the age of 20 to 50. After that we are considered useless, throw aways, unless you have your own business or you are in a profession that regards those with experience as mentors. My friend just spent the last 4 years finishing her masters in Art Education. This is no small feat considering she also was raising four children, and struggling with a marriage that did not work any more. This is a woman with a vast amount of knowledge in her field and is constantly updating her professional data base all the time. She has spent countless hours learning about the computer and how to use it as a tool to further her profession. In fact, she is working all the time. She could not only teach but work circles around anyone I know. She has amazing grace and stamina. Yet she is 55 just like me and has been searching for work now for the last 6 months. She has more knowledge more experience more patience and any of her younger constituents. Why then is she not working for a living? She has had a few interviews. Nothing has panned out. She has an impeccable resume and a very impressive portfolio. Yet no one seems to care. She told me on one interview for a teaching position the principal dismissed her never even looking at her portfolio. I think it's her age. America has always been about the young and new and we are not young or new, we are vibrant and experienced. We want to work. We want to belong. We want to see things change and grow. We have a wisdom about life no twenty something could ever have. I am in China learning a whole new skill set to take with me where ever I go. I was wrong to be flippant. She was right to let me have it...... You go girl!