"Lipstick Jungle": The book made me wonder (and grieve over) what my career might have been, if not for chronic illness... the TV series starts 2/7.
I just finished the book... and now I find out it's going to be a television series starring these three lovely ladies. Yes, that is Brooke Sheilds.
"SERIES PREMIERE tomorrow, Thursday February 7th 10/9c - "Pilot" - Movie Exec Wendy Healy, Editor-in-Chief Nico Reilly, and Fashion Designer Victory Ford are modern New York career women supporting each other through triumphs and tears that are all part of making it in the Big Apple." See the video clip at the end of this post.I think the book was great chick lit. I'm looking forward to the series.
WARNING: THIS MIGHT BE A SPOILER (I.E. IT MIGHT SPOIL PART OF THE BOOK FOR YOU)
From the book:
"Men are just frightened little people with penises attached."This from Wendy, in her pep talk to Nico when Nico was having second thoughts about the wisdom of getting her boss, Mike, fired. The boss cried, then he called Nico a bitch and Viktor's (Mike's boss') "little hand maiden."Nico didn't mind being called a bitch. That pretty much came with the territory of being a women in the man's world of upper management. She was much more bothered by the "little hand maiden" comment. You'll need to read the book to see her reasoning on that one...
I thought I was pretty much past wondering what might have been regarding my career. But I had an epiphany towards the end of the book. I was listening to the book and driving, and one thought led to another. One thought being: During the part where Nico has to fire her own boss so she can take his job, she likens the experience to having a child; incredibly difficult during the event, totally wiped out afterward, but the result was she had a great job/child and the knowledge that neither project would get easier.
The other thoughts this led to:
I really thought I had dealt with these issues. Guess it's the old onion skin analogy. I keep dealing with them, but on increasingly deeper levels, peeling the skin of the onion ever deeper.
- I'll never know what I could have accomplished professionally, because at the age of 50 I am fighting for my social security disability application to be approved, having lived with chronic illness for the duration of my professional life, from my very first job at Woolworth's at the age of 16. (Endometriosis from the beginning of my cycle.) Afterthought: When I look at it like this, I did OK considering. I made middle management.
- I'll never know what it would have been like to have and raise a child.
RE: Having a child, I've thought we're both probably better off (me, and the unborn child), considering what my life has been like. Failed marriage, inability to support myself because of illness, etc. etc. etc. But still I wonder what it would have been like...
So if you like chick lit, I highly recommend this book. The jury's still out on the series...
Hey, wouldn't it be great to see a female character with ICI on a TV series?
I liked the book too when I read it awhile back. The critics aren't raving about the series but I'm definitely checking it out. I do like Cashmere Mafia (also based essentially on the same premise) that's already running Wednesdays on ABC, and the critics hate that too. :) What do they know!
ReplyDeleteI can totally identify on the wondering about what my career could have been if I hadn't been left with chronic pain after an on-the-job injury back in 1995 that pretty much derailed my career although I kept working for the AP until 2004.
I do have a child -- a 3-year-old daughter -- and sometimes I wonder if that was a mistake because I feel so much guilt over how limited my role in her life is these days due to my chronic illness. And I often think it was a blessing in disguise that I repeatedly miscarried when we were trying for a second baby back in 2006. I certainly can't begin to imagine how I'd be taking care of an infant with all this going on -- I don't think I'd be capable of it physically right now -- and we can barely afford daycare for a preschooler, which is WAY cheaper than daycare for an infant. I don't know how we'd manage financially.
Ugh. Sorry. Somehow that became all about me when I really just wanted you to know that I understand where you're coming from.
Enjoy some entertaining TV tonight that hopefully will take your mind off everything that hurts. :)
Thank you. For sharing and for understanding. I bet your daughter will never think it was a mistake to have you for a mother.
ReplyDeleteI have been watching the Cashmere Mafia. I like it; I especially like the clothes!
Sherril
I'm dealing with these same feelings also as I also have Fibro and several other illnesses. I had to give up my Air Force career because of it and now at age 51, I wonder wouldn't it have been nice to have that retirement check. I too am still fighting for disability after 10 yrs. It's a frustrating position that can sometimes make you feel worthless. A career would have been nice. I too blog about my life with these illnesses. http://notthelifeibargainedfor.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThank you for your site.
Well said, and you have a great blog title: notthelifeibargainedfor. That pretty much says it all, doesn't it?
ReplyDelete