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“45” is actually just one of the ages I’ve heard, but it of course is both anecdotal (well, there have been some studies done), and is going to vary with different people and in different circumstances.
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Sitting on recliners in Val’s living room, Val and her friend Jo talk over mixed drinks. Jo says, “it is kind of ironic.” Val asks, “what is?” Jo says, “that you saved my life when I tried to kill myself with sleeping pills in high school, and then we formed a suicide pact.” Val disagrees strongly and says emphatically, “totally not ironic! That’s why we came up with the suicide pact.” Val stands up, unable to contain her energy by sitting, and says, “if you’d succeeded, I’d have been stuck going through life without my best friend.” Val calms down and says as clearly as she can to Jo, “our pact means neither of us gets left behind.” Jo drinks and replies, “yeah. Fair.” Val asks her, “so, what’re you going to do for your remaining time?” Jo replies, nonplussed, “I’d say ‘make lots of lovin” but finding someone feels like an awful lot of effort.” Sobered by this reply, Val says, “yeah. What is it they say? That statistically, women start becoming invisible at 45?” Very amused by this, Jo snort-laughs and says, “Well, that one came and went.”
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I read today’s comic, and this Wondermark came to mind. There’s probably an SMBC I could refer to as well.
Thank you very much for that link! All the webcomics I read and have somehow missed/not heard of this one.
Cheers! It doesn’t update often these days, but I still check and find it worth the wait.
Yeah, 45 was my number. Doesn’t help that I’m rather short (5ft on a good day) I literally get overlooked!
Nope, yelling doesn’t work. 😀
It IS sad that Jo never moved on from the attempt tho. I suppose she had therapy since, but she obviously didn’t tell her dr about the pact at all.
….
Christopher, you’ve hooked me after all. Darn it.
Lol
I am not so sure. 45 looks like Young Stuff to me.
My first thoughts exactly.
Looking back from 78 I’d say 45 is totally young!
May I suggest a lovers pact instead of a suicide pact?
Yeah, at 75 I sometimes feel positively nonexistent…
I’m 70, and yup. This country will get mad at you if you assume someone’s (not easily guessed) hender but will gladly forget anyone 60 or over. I learned early not to admit my age (in person)(I don’t look my age).
Employers though, they know your age and will bypass you beginning at age 45, if you’re female. Actuaries can prove that frmakes aged 45+ drain the health insurance coffers.
I was a field engineer/computer aided drawing designer for the astronatics/aeronatics duvision of Lockheed Martin, was underwritten by the older and newer degreed engineers, but was still dumped. They emptied the department around me, leaving, eventually, only me to continue doing the work.
Then they brought 2 guys in for me to train (I was getting highest marks on all the testing, on 5 different computer systems. AND I could work on the old paper drawings.)
Those guys refused to listen to me (my boss knew).
There’s more, but I won’t bother you with the rest.
I loved tgat job, still have dreams of working on the shuttle…
I wish I could edit these. The last update on my phone does weird things with my keystrokes.
I feel like this entire episode is a rebuke to my “ironic” comment last time.
I’m well past 45, and believe me, I still appreciate an age appropriate lady.
I wasn’t “complaining” to you. Many ppl are good with mature folks… the very young tho… and employers… and ppl in stores (both sellers and customers).
My hair has very little white or gray and somehow I didn’t get many wrinkles at all! It’s how I can get by. But admit to the age and boom! You’re erased.
I know I’ll barely be missed… (I’m hoping to outlive my 4 dogs.. just have to make it another 15 yrs.. ????)
Btw, you commenters are a good group of folks. I’d be fine meeting with any of you, IRL.
If you want real invisibility, try being in a wheelchair, especially if you are older and female. People can’t see you even when you are next in line and and will cheerfully skip you to help the person who came in minutes after you and stands directly behind you. Even if you loudly point out that you were next, all you get is a dirty look and ignored longer. Obviously you must be with the person standing behind you and are incapable of speaking for yourself.
Ok, rant over.
You have the privilege to rant!
And I do know the old lady in a wheelchair problem… I broke my back 3 years ago in a fall (while on crutches for a knee meniscus repair). I was flat on my back for 6 months, and even in my house, had to use a wheelchair (couldn’t tolerate it long. Being upright ~hurt.) We took me out to appts in a chair, after which I’d go into a store just so I could be OUT.
And yup, if they don’t see you, you don’t exist. ~Most ppl would look right thru me. The kids saw me tho. I’d get their help to get something off a shelf. (They need to be pretty young tho for that amount of compassion. Depends on the kid ????)
Sometimes I despair over man’s ability to be mean without even trying to his own species…
I think that’s a reason I read Spacetrawler… we get to rant over the clueless and mean, chortle over the ridiculous, and applaud the hero in even our smallest beings-who-do-right.
Thanks Christopher. ?
(LOVE my magnet! Makes me chortle!)