In my frantic search through the house for personal papers regarding retirement issues, I have been touching a lot of "old" stuff which have stirred up memories.
Nor surprisingly this morning I found myself reflecting on choices I have made and once again berating myself for the truly bad ones. The truth be known, I have never had a plan. I don't know why, I've had dreams, but no mentor to guide me on to a path.
Maybe it's because we were the first wave of baby Boomers to hit the school syatem which was sorely unprepared for the crush. Some years we were on split shifts until new facilities were completed. Teachers didn't have much time to spend with idividual students.
Maybe my parents were satisfied with their own fulfillment,the American dream of the 50's with a house in the burbs, a car and a stereo.
Growing up during the Great Depression, They were pleased that we were able to complete high school, and didn't expect more or prepare us for higher education.
And the options were minimal compared to today.
My female peers generally went on to the commercial world where they became a secretary until she was lucky enough to marry.
Acadenic scholars went on to college to becoma a teacher or into nursing school to pursue that career,
The General diploma graduates went on to unskilled jobs or marriage.
Even though I persued the academic course, I was basically an unskilled laborer when i graduated. My desire to be a nurse was squashed by my Parent's lack of interest ie money.
I often wonder if they had made that one little investment how different my life might be
Maybe if my BFF hadn't gotten pregnant at 16 and gotten married, I wouldn't have felt so desparate to be loved. Somehow that made marriage an option for me.
I have always been a hopeless romantic so when I fell in love at 18, I got married. I was already feeling like an old maid.
I hope that the girls of today appreciate the many choices that are available to them.