July 25, 2004
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Skipping the usual Things That Refresh My Soul Sunday segment today to get on with Chapter 6 so I can get on with Chapter 7. (For other chapters, see here.)
But to begin at the beginning… In August 1959 we drove from Oregon to California, renting our first apartment in Oakland. In September, we began our classes at Berkeley, my husband his first year of graduate school and I, my senior year. The campus was enormous and the system different than it had been in Washington – quarters rather than semesters. I registered for 7 classes, and by the end of the first month I was so overwhelmed that I withdrew from school. I felt panic and guilt to be disappointing everyone’s high expectations, but I went immediately to the state employment office and took the first job for which I interviewed. Of all the odd places, it was in the research department of a small plant that manufactured a lightweight panel used in aircraft construction. However, it wasn’t the scientific side of this job that impacted me – it was the social aspect. One of only two women in a department of a dozen male researchers, I did secretarial work that was no particular challenge, but I was also expected to participate in lunch-hour bridge games in a tiny library with neon lights in the ceiling. Never having been a cardplayer and certainly not anything as complicated as bridge, I discovered that the learning curve was intense and the game was being played with surprising hostility. To make a long story short, I lasted an amazing 10 months at this job. One day, the pressure of the bridge-playing, hard-driving atmosphere and an impending job review caused me to simply walk out the door and not return. I had just turned 21. (to be continued) 
Deep Thought: It’s funny, but when you look at an old man, then you look at a photo of him when he was a young man, then you look at the old man, then the photo, back and forth, pretty soon you’ll do whatever anybody tells you to.
Today I am grateful for: Bunzilla
End of Day – 8:40 pm
+ = Feel reasonably ready to get up early, take the bus down to scary downtown Portland and do jury duty tomorrow – and please don’t write and tell me how much you’d love to do jury duty.
- = Granddaughter fractured big toe – owwww! Not on my watch though thank god.
Comments (8)
I really like you telling us the stories of this part of your life this way. And that way you’ll write more every day and so accomplish your goal of recording your life! I’m really stalled again on my maternal body book, which I am writing as a private blog, and am toying with some options on how to motivate my lazy old muse. What you are doing is, then, not only interesting, and well written as ever, but inspiring too!
Thank you, my dear, and I hope that muse kicks in soon. What is a maternal body book?
wow, i’d like to write an autobiography one day too, but it probably would not be all that interesting.
how are you liking grace & grit?
So much that I’m ordering a copy so I can scribble all over it. it’s the perfect book for right now in my life as I clarify where my own spiritual center is. thankyouthankyouthankyou!
I would love to do jury duty.
Anyway, no I wouldn’t, to be honest. Was assigned for it in 2000, got out of it. Don’t look forward to the next time my name comes down the pike.
And I think that’s the truth for most of us. It sounds like a Great Idea till the day comes. But who knows, maybe I’ll become a convert. Stay tuned.
Thank you SO much. I am looking forward to getting caught up on your blogs this weekend! What a wonderful idea. I will pass on your mentioned of Bunzilla! who has certainly proved herself in this lifetime. My Gram has also been very thankful for her and comforted by the fact that Grandpa became so bonded to her. I will never never forget the look on his face when I brought her into his hospital room. He literally glowed.
Why would anyone try to coerce someone into playing bridge. That’s cruel and unusual!