I have consciously made a decision that the solid, muscular, and well defined weight of ahmmn!! .. over 200 lbs on my 5′ 7″ big boned frame, is with me for the duration. I could lose at least 30lbs and look like Ms. Senior Ebony. Maybe I’ll get some stares, and maybe a few winks. But, I have reconciled with the reality, that my body mass is about to shift under the weight of its own gravity, with or without my consent. Unless I could afford the reconstructive plastic surgery to nip, tuck, tighten and band, the misbehaving muscle and fat, will just have to endure, my holding my stomach in, even if I might lose my breadth. My exercise workouts are my solo dance night caps of hip hop, reggae and calypso midnight entertainment routines.
With thanks to family genetics, I have not greyed. So I am still sprouting dark hair follicles. First savings; I don’t have to budget for Feria, or Vidal Sassoon color treatments.
For my forty year career life, I have moved from the security of the traditional office job, to consulting, to contracting, to independent sales, to government contractor staffing. The riches of these positions were: the knowledge and skills and competencies that I gained.
In lieu of finishing my undergraduate studies, I started a family and continued to be a working mother. Then after becoming a single divorced parent, I continued in the career paths that provided the necessary income for sustenance and family well being.
In a stint as an events manager, I promoted Caribbean talent events, featuring David Michael Rudder and the band Charlies Roots, from Trinidad and Tobago. The successes were tremendous; the first event had an overflowing capacity turnout. To this day, I do not know if the profits evaporated in thin air, or if they mysteriously walked out the door, without account. I was also, the official promoter for a District of Columbia, Adams Morgan Day event. The featured act on the main stage was David Rudder and Charlie’s Roots band. It was at that event in 1990, that my life as an event planner came to an abrupt end.
Just as , then Presidential Candidate, Jesse Jackson stepped off the main stage, after shouting his Keep Hope Alive! , Keep Hope Alive! , campaign slogan, the band began its musical introductions. From out of the clear blue sky, the most torrential hail storm appeared and it devastated the performance. Boulders of hail were falling from the skies followed by a violent rainstorm. The ambitions of my own stardom as an events manager came crashing down with each bolt of lightning and thunder. I had to reconstruct and rebuild my career path and rely again on career security.
Time has been kind to my aging. I am still active and healthy and have no disease or sickness. I know this is such a blessing and my gratitude is unceasing. Maybe, I have been unconscious, but the age factor has not affected me. In my hopeful and illustrious imagination, I anticipated that career options will continue through my seventies.
In September of 2010, I got the offer for the permanent staff position. I was hired for the contract with one of the world’s largest government contracting firms in the nation’s capitol. As the end of the second year approached, the permanent career became a contractor position that ended. The main lesson learned was; there was a new team of young college graduates, under thirty year old consultants, that were better suited for the position. I was to train the incoming staff.
What a revelation, OMG! I am a senior citizen. I am over 55 and the corporate value that I once had is now diminished. I have been downsized in income by more than 60 percent of my former gross salary. But here is the good news. I have continued to work.
At my new part time position, I am within 10 minutes of my work site. I enjoy the people I work with and the people I meet. I am hoping to be offered a full time post in the near future. And again, I am so grateful.
Of all the benefits that I truly enjoy about being 57, well almost 60, are the joy and the love of my three grand girls. I get to learn all the current songs, they teach me to dance, and they won’t trade me for a newer and younger model.
Just one more thing, I get senior discounts. I can go to the movies and my tickets are eight dollars. I am happy. Another savings… towards retirement.
