Comments on My Open Wallet: My Great-Aunt Minnie

As a single woman in her 70's (who did rather well...

2009-12-20T15:46:15.286-05:00

As a single woman in her 70's (who did rather well in the corporate world) I truly enjoyed your post. I am a happy woman who has traveled extensively and found great satisfaction in my career. I am fortunate to have the good health to continue my travels with my friends.
I did a great deal for my nephews over the years and that is my one regret. I never should have robbed them of the joy I had in "making my own way". My genorosity to them has really not been a blessing to them or to me.

How lovely

2009-12-12T22:49:55.753-05:00

How lovely

best. post. yet.

2009-11-25T15:25:55.540-05:00

best. post. yet.

Thank you for writing a very moving piece for us.

2009-11-13T19:40:07.797-05:00

Thank you for writing a very moving piece for us.

The timing on this was good for me. I had a breakd...

2009-11-13T14:22:24.402-05:00

The timing on this was good for me. I had a breakdown this weekend because I am 35, successful and alone. I just woke up after years of working, traveling the world and getting a masters and realized that what matters most to me is having a partner. This is a nice reminder that a fulfilling life is possible even if things don't go the way I want them to.

That was a very inspirational post! It proves tha...

2009-11-12T16:23:59.488-05:00

That was a very inspirational post! It proves that women have so many avenues today than what was considered centuries ago, or may I say, decades ago???

thought you would like to read this wsj article ab...

2009-11-12T11:06:11.865-05:00

thought you would like to read this wsj article about severance pay and people who did not budget for tough times
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125780714976639687.html

from anon 10:14-> Thank you Madame X for such deta...

2009-11-11T23:34:29.659-05:00

from anon 10:14-> Thank you Madame X for such detailed answer! As always I really appreciate how considerate and level-headed your answers are. I'm a bit awe-struck that your friend dared ask whether Minnie is lesbian...of course she may very well be but somehow it just seems like a huge taboo especially for people in her generation.

I hope you're better nowadays with your family and that you, your mom, and your sister are all doing better.

I really enjoyed reading your post. What a strong...

2009-11-11T22:03:40.461-05:00

I really enjoyed reading your post. What a strong woman!

Great reflection of a pillar in your life. . . . m...

2009-11-10T20:56:27.140-05:00

Great reflection of a pillar in your life. . . . my grandmother is the era of your aunt. . . . her mind is gone. . . . I can't get those pearls of wisdom that you have gleaned from your aunt.
Write down all your thoughts and memories in a special place. You would be surprised how comforting that will be to you some day.
I wished I had done that.
Ciao

any chance that she is well enough to help answer ...

2009-11-10T20:43:21.033-05:00

any chance that she is well enough to help answer some of the questions posted? I have a neighbor who is 86, alone still traveling the world, although a bit embarrassed that she could afford her second 18+ day cruise of the year. Anyway,she has offered so many pearls of financial wisdom to me, from her life. I can't help but think they (older generations) dealt with many of the same money issues we deal with... If you are surrounded by people that "have made it" lets learn from them so one, we do not repeat the bad, but two we can maybe look to actually execute the good they did... It can't all be a new game.... But rather just and updated version....

Thoughts?

A moving and inspiring read!! Its been a few days ...

2009-11-10T16:36:26.390-05:00

A moving and inspiring read!! Its been a few days since your last post, and i wasn't a big fan of your previous post.. but this one is worth the wait.. God bless Aunt Minnie!

@anon 12:14, of course I identify more with the no...

2009-11-10T16:19:07.496-05:00

@anon 12:14, of course I identify more with the non-motherhood role because it's what I ended up choosing, but I have no disrespect for those who take the traditional route. I've also written a bit about my grandmother, the one who "popped out" the 6 babies, which is a formidable achievement no matter how you look at it! And my grandmother was just so special in many other ways as well. The two sisters were truly a great pair, each in their own way, and I could tell stories about both of them for far longer than anyone would care to listen!

Wonderful post - thanks so much for sharing!

2009-11-10T14:41:57.583-05:00

Wonderful post - thanks so much for sharing!

As usual a very enjoyable read ... although it is ...

2009-11-10T12:14:01.557-05:00

As usual a very enjoyable read ... although it is possible for someone to detect a slight bias against the traditional women -- those who "pop out" children and focus their attention on family instead of career ... then perhaps that just my read?

In either case, you aunt sounds like a great lady and her life and choices deserved equal admiration to women choosing family over career IMHO.

This was really delightful to read. I love hearing...

2009-11-10T11:04:37.290-05:00

This was really delightful to read. I love hearing stories about women who chose to live different lives - there isn't just one path to fulfillment. I hope that Minnie is kept comfortable for the remainder of her days.

Anon 10:14-- It's an interesting question, and I'm...

2009-11-10T10:20:14.358-05:00

Anon 10:14-- It's an interesting question, and I'm not really sure. Minnie has always been so cheerful about everything, it's hard to imagine her feeling depressed about how her life turned out. All the nieces and nephews and the extended family are so fond of her, I doubt she could miss having her own kids, but not having a partner must have been harder. However, I think that it was probably easier for her in her youth than it would be for someone today, just because it was more of an expected role-- women tended to choose between marriage and career, whereas now it's more expected to do both.
I've also been asked if Minnie was a lesbian-- my thinking on that is that she probably wasn't, but maybe could have been if she'd grown up today-- I think sexuality is more determined by nature than by nurture but a lot of people might be flexible enough for circumstances and social acceptance to swing things one way or another to some extent.

So who knows... but, Anonymous, you're only 25, so you have plenty of time to think about what kind of future you want, whether that includes a partner or not, or children, or whatever. We have so many options today, and if your feelings about your lifestyle change as you get older, it doesn't have to be "too late."

Very moving piece. Thank you.

2009-11-10T10:10:56.664-05:00

Very moving piece.
Thank you.

God bless your Aunt Minnie! Thank you for sharing ...

2009-11-10T09:57:34.751-05:00

God bless your Aunt Minnie! Thank you for sharing this family story. So inspiring and so touching...

Great post. Reinforces hope that their is happines...

2009-11-10T07:46:49.964-05:00

Great post. Reinforces hope that their is happiness out there for single women who like it that way just fine.

(by asking this question I'm not suggesting that y...

2009-11-09T22:14:28.328-05:00

(by asking this question I'm not suggesting that your Aunt should have gotten married or had a significant other)but do you think there were times when she was lonely and might have wished that she did have a family? I ask only because at the age of 25 I find myself having many characteristics similar to that of your Aunt (but I'm not at all distinguished at this point haha)and can see myself leading the same lifestyle when i'm older yet i'm a bit concerned that some day i might all of a sudden yearn for a more traditional family life and realize that it's too late to obtain it. what's your thought on that?

Your Aunt Minnie sounds like a great lady. She re...

2009-11-09T21:49:39.621-05:00

Your Aunt Minnie sounds like a great lady. She reminds me a great aunt I had who had a career and lived in the "big" city --- Kansas City.

Thanks for bringing back memories.

That's a very sweet post. It makes me hope to be ...

2009-11-09T21:04:42.669-05:00

That's a very sweet post. It makes me hope to be an Aunt Minnie some day.

That's beautiful! I enjoy your longer pieces.

2009-11-09T20:25:51.384-05:00

That's beautiful! I enjoy your longer pieces.