SALLY SEZ....

that the new infatuation in the universe is the season premiere of "Mad Men."

We were talking about the fact that the show does such a good job of portraying how absolutely stultifying life was for intelligent women pre-1968. My daughter said that watching the show helped her understand why I was so angry that young women didn't appreciate how much we had worked so that they had opportunities we didn't (Can you tell that she was an Obama supporter and I was a Clinton supporter in 2007-8? But of course now I adore the Prez and think the Secy of State is doing an AWESOME job!)

But Sally put it so well that I must just quote her:


the fact that we really are sexier, can feel sexier, now than when we were young, because:
no garter belts or tight cotton bras -- bare legs and sports bras.
no sitting in the bleachers cheering on the boys -- we jog, spin, walk and celebrate our bodies (what there is left).
no sitting by the telephone -- not only can we call, but we can IM, text, or whatever. Hello!
no secrets and embarrassments -- now one can advertise all or nothing on Facebook, plus there's so much more that's discussed and allowed.
no terrible competition, in a way -- now everyone is becoming gray and splotched and wrinkly, no matter how blonde or perky they were at 18. One can dye (but it's obvious) and buy creams of every description, but, really, we're all in the same boat. It's personality, humor, intelligence that counts. And, anyway, the guys have the overhang and the saggy chins, too, so who are they to be critical?

let's see -- I know there's more. But, in general, there was such a stereotype of what was pretty and desirable, and all the rules and accoutrements that went with it. Then, in the '60s, you could be a hippie -- but that was just as confining in its own way, and the women were supposed to wash the dishes while the men did the heavy political thinking, or music-making. Girls were still accessories.

Now, we make our own rules, for better or worse, and that's the sexiest feeling of all.

Isn't my friend Sally AMAZING?!!! She has really nailed the essence of this aging thing. Especially for women we HAVE come a long way baby and only those of us who wore the garter belts can truly understand how long and difficult the journey has been.....