Considering the future

[ksmith]

I swiped this quotation from Elizabeth Moon. I was not familiar with it, though I have been a fan of Dorothy L Sayers for years.

“Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman. But an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any force.” – Dorothy L. Sayers

One day, I was driving home from somewhere or other, and I saw my future. A bright red Honda Fit tootling down the road, driven by a white-haired old lady. In my mind, she was a “dog lady,” who traveled when the spirit moved her, and knew how to fit a jar between the door and the jamb to open it and slide heavy things on rugs and cardboard to move them from room to room. Who maintained her independence as much as possible, and swore to do it for as long as she possibly could.

And who set people back on their heels because she didn’t fit into the “little old lady” mold, and they couldn’t figure her out.

::knocks wood that it comes to pass::

I anticipate that freedom from convention and the expectations of others. I ponder this inclination of mine to prepare for it, and wonder if I should just hold my nose and jump in the deep end of the pool.

Mirrored from Kristine Smith.

Comments

[e-moon60.livejournal.com]

Well, I swiped it from someone's sig line on a closed list I'm on (or I'd give credit where it's due.) I love Sayers but didn't know that particular quote (or, possibly, read it and forgot it.)

Did you ever see, on PBS, the British comedy about a home for the aged, in which one of them was a very, very rebellious old woman?

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Speaking of the Dowager Duchess, I believe . . .

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Nope--not familiar with that particular series. Do you recall any of the actors' names?

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

So it was in a story, and not a real-life quotation?

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I believe so. Maybe Busman's Honeymoon, but I'm not sure.

[e-moon60.livejournal.com]

Alas, no. I am lousy at actors' names, and frequently on the comedies they went by too fast for me to read easily anyway. Oh--I do recall the name of the series, suddenly: "Waiting for God." The character name was Diana, and she had been a journalist, but was now treated as an idiot by the staff, who loathed her as much as she loathed them, but also feared her--and she did not fear them.

[e-moon60.livejournal.com]

The Dowager Duchess was a delight. At least in print.

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

I am rather enjoying looking like someone's middle-aged mom, and yet not acting like it at all. People seem not to realize that each generation is different, and while GenX is now moving into middle age, we are the generation that created South Park.

I'm totally looking forward to being an eccentric old lady.