Halfway through my bike ride along the Tiburon loop this morning, my handlebars decided to nearly break free, taking a good portion of the brakes with them.
I struggled with that for as long as I could, but by the time I reached the Cove shopping center, I realized the only way to get home was to be rescued.
I called around until I found someone to come get me, but it got me thinking about "being rescued" — a concept women have been brought up with from the first readings of a fairy tale in which the (always) handsome prince arrives on his steadfast steed to whisk her away from trouble.
Ah, if life were truly that way.
Yet, even as fortysomething women in this post-feminist world, where we have our own careers, homes, IRAs, etc., there's often a feeling that men need to rescue us from, if not giving up the daily work grind, then at the very least certain tasks.
I felt the full force of that when Rob and I split. Suddenly, everything started falling apart — the kitchen grinder died; the bathroom faucets leaked; the relatively new DVD player decided it would only have sound, no picture; the toilet handle broke; weeds began to overrun the yard, the gutters were clogged. Rob always had taken care of those "blue" jobs while I handled the "pink."
Some things I learned how to do — you should have seen me fix the faucet leak — but sometimes I felt like, where is my prince to rescue me from all this crap that I don't know how to do and don't want to know, either ... without having to pay him $80 an hour (boy, did I pick the wrong profession!)
I am very confident and successful in my career and life, but I was beginning to feel rather helpless.
I found myself striking bargains with my male friends — "I’ll make you a fab dinner and that flourless chocolate cake if you ..." Sometimes they had ideas of their own for trades, but most were happy to help — it's such a "guy" thing.
But I don't like the feeling of having to be rescued.
Does it bother you to be rescued?
For guys, do you like it when a woman asks for help, or do you see her as weak?
And do you think it's too late for me to start my plumbing career?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I'm happy to know that I am not the only divorced mother who's ever thought,'where's my prince to fix this instead of me fixing it?' But usually those are short lived moments becuase then I roll up my sleeves and do it for myself. I've learned I can do alot of things I always relied on a man to do. It's a great feeling to know I can do it, but it's still more fun to have someone else do it.
Thanks, anonymous.
You're right — it is so rewarding to figure something out.
Too bad there isn't anyone around to brag about it to!!!!
;-)
good luck in your future fixings ...
Post a Comment