Another Crazy Old Lady?

My new neighbor was ranting on the radio last night about childless women. He is apparently of the opinion that any woman who doesn’t bear children is mentally ill. Oy.

Now I do realize that these radio jocks have a set number of hours to fill and, when they aren’t getting any calls, they have to yammer on about something. I also realize that in this era of endless sensationalism, disregard for silly old-fashioned notions such as privacy, and total lack of personal dignity, it is a big challenge for these folks to get their share of attention. But Jay is approaching Michael Graham territory with me — the second I hear the dulcet tones of his whining voice I pop in a CD.

I’ll give Graham credit. He is polite and respectful to his callers. And he can be funny. He said possibly the funniest thing I’ve heard in years when, in a discussion about vegetarians, he said that soon the only meat that would be acceptable to eat would be the flesh of cattle that committed suicide in protest over the war in Iraq. I laughed for days about that one. But he just finds himself entirely too amusing. I have trouble with people who a.) mock others quite randomly and b.) dissolve in helpless giggles over their own jokes. Plus Graham HATES Massachusetts. Does he think he would be missed if he went back wherever he came from?

These guys crack me up. First of all, they need a co-host to talk to when the phones aren’t ringing. Even O’Reilly realizes that. It’s sad to listen to someone ramble on endlessly to themselves. They keep saying, “the lines are jammed” and then they prattle on and on and on. If the lines are jammed for heaven’s sake do us all a favor and ANSWER them!!! I repeat, oy!

So anyhow, my neighbor has decided that any woman who does not have children is going to bitterly regret it and that single women are the saddest people in society — despite all evidence to the contrary. Study after study after study finds that the happiest members of society (I am going to assume we are talking about straight society, I wouldn’t presume to speak for gay folks) are, in order: 1.) single women, 2.) married men, 3.) married women and, finally, 4.) single men.

I knew when I was eighteen that I was not cut out to have children. I LOVE children and am very glad that my family has been prolific in reproducing which has spared me the necessity of doing so. Kids are fun and endearing and all that stuff but I’ve never wanted one of my own. I know what it takes to be a good parent and I suspect I didn’t get that particular gene. I’m a creative person, my books are my babies and that is just fine with me.

But more than that, as my friends are entering farther into their fifties, the kids are leaving, they are getting out of inadequate marriages, and coming into their own as people I hear it over and over and over — “I never knew it was possible to be this happy!” It isn’t about what is wrong with men or with children or with the world, it is about discovering what is right and good and beautiful about YOU!

I love men and am lucky. With very few exceptions the men I’ve had in my life have been good ones and, even though a relationship wasn’t meant for the long haul, that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a good one for awhile. I am very glad I know that. I am very glad I’ve taken the path I have — in some ways it has allowed me to keep my romanticism about men and about children and about life. It’s not for everyone but it sure has worked for me.

So, sorry, Jay, once again, you’re wrong. Oh well. I popped in a CD — Christopher Parkening playing Joaquin Rodrigo. It was glorious and nobody told me to turn it down or rolled their eyes either.

Thanks for reading.