Starting Your Dreams Later In Life and Embracing the Detour

Jenee Darden speaking at Creative Mornings I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but that's because of my job. I'm working as a reporter covering Oakland and I host an arts segment on the radio where I get to interview amazing artists from around the Bay Area. Plus I'm publicizing my book  and building my speaking career!  You know what's funny? I thought this would all happen by the time I was 27-30.  Nope. That wasn't God's plan for me. I'm finally beginning to do the things I've wanted to do and I'm almost 40 years old. Some people reading this who are 40 will say 40 is still young. But some younger people reading may think 40 is nearly ancient. But I'm writing this post for those who like me, thought their career and personal dreams would come true much early in life. I'm here to tell you not to give up.  You know, death inspires life. A number of my relatives and friends have passed away, ranging in
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We'll Miss You Dorothy
Bea Arthur 1922-2009

I was so sad to hear that "Maude" and "Golden Girls" star Bea Arthur, 86, died Saturday of cancer. I was too young to watch "Maude", but "The Golden Girls" is one of my favorite shows. I've seen every episode and watch the reruns almost daily on the Hallmark Channel and We TV. The show always lifts my spirits when I'm in a funk. I identify most with Arthur's character Dorothy Zbornak. She's funny, smart, caring and tells-it-like-it-is. It's interesting that Estelle Getty, who played Dorothy's mother Sophia Petrillo, died a year prior.

Arthur was no doubt funny, but her roles as Dorothy and Maude should also be remembered for more than just big laughs. Those characters brought real women's issues to light. Maude was a strong, intelligent woman married to an alcoholic. The sit-com pushed the envelope back in the 1970s with episodes on touch topics like birth control, cosmetic surgery and abortion. Many viewers were angry about one episode where Maude gets pregnant at 47 and chooses to have an abortion. In the 80s and early 90s the "The Golden Girls" flipped the script on what it means to be a senior citizen. Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche and Rose proved life is not over once it's time to start collecting Social Security. Ladies, if we take care of ourselves today we can still have fun, travel, work, date, dream and even have sex in our golden years.

Thanks for making us smile Bea.

Or as Sophia would say, "You're the best pussycat."




Info on Maude from the Museum of Broadcast Communications.

Comments

  1. ErikaApril 27, 2009 at 8:55 AM

    I used to watch Maude occasionally on TV Land, I think. It, like all of Norman Lear's sitcoms, was really good, but I mostly remember that Good Times was a spin-off of that show. I absolutetly LOVED Golden Girls, and I think I've seen every episode. Bea Arthur was a TV legend and will be sorely missed.

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