"Age is not something that matters much unless you are cheese." (from Brain Rules by John Medina; sent to me by my friend, Ann Dockendorff) So, I wish that that was true. I was walking Brady dog yesterday and ran into Bill, the gregarious, handsome, warm, intelligent and beloved social hub of the hood. He told me that he had worked for years in high tech, was much respected but unfortunately laid off four years ago. Bill is 63. He had applied for 74 positions in the past two years and there was always much excitement about his resume, interviews seemingly went well-----and then nothing. Bill said to me: "Uncle! I can't believe I'll have to default on the mortgage. I've just reached the end of resources."

This is my story too (well, in upcoming posts, the 'rest of the story' will emerge...). Laid off, applications sent out for positions I was highly qualified for, interviews had (which I consider my forte)---and then nothing. I finally realized about a year ago that I was finished. Finished with going about trying to obtain a job the traditional way; I was not going to subject myself to such a futile effort any longer, especially with the job market as it is. I needed to get creative, think outside the box.....and then I met Sean.

Going Gray

Bill has a great head of hair: thick, wavy--and silver. My hair is also silver. It wasn't always this way:)

About two years ago, I was shopping in Fred Meyer and was told cheerily by the cashier that "golly you are lucky--, today is Tuesday, senior discount day, and you'll receive 10% off your total purchase!" WHAT?? You think I'm a friggin' SENIOR?? Well, crap. The past few years have taken their toll (more later in the 'emerging story') but sheesh, I'm not ready for this! Are we ever? Clearly my dyed hair was not fooling anyone, and it was my children who encouraged me: "Mom, you should go gray." I'm now loving my newish gray/silvery hair color. The business world often does not.

Last week the Oregonian newspaper featured an article titled "Working Women Daring to Go Gray." The good news: as one woman put it, "It's a bold statement to be gray...people take me more seriously now." The bad news, as one man put it, laughing: "I don't think a woman in the workplace is going to follow that trend (going gray)...If I were an older working person, the last thing I would do is go gray." SCOFF! Really? Really? How dare he! Song insert: "It's a Man's World." And then I think of Bill; ageism is not just for women.

I remember my mother saying she didn't recognize the gray, wrinkled woman looking back at her in the mirror--that inside she still felt like the youthful, vital woman she always was. I understand now how she feels as I live with the everchanging visage in my mirror (which, by the way I comically thought of as just a stage I was going through). Although now I rather comfortingly do not get stared at and husseled as I did even in my recent "attractive" years, I do often have the sense of feeling invisible now---somewhat diminished and less relevant. I am beginning to see that this adventure I am on is really a quest not so much to find a "job" but also to recapture that vitality, and to share my experience and transformation with others.

And, by the way, Bill was offered a great job this week through friends who truly know his worth.

---Linda