Resume; or, The Kind Of Woman I've Grown Up To Be
Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 01:45PM Likes to wear "jaunty scarves," prefers dresses with pockets. Talks to strangers in elevators. Stops to give directions when asked. Keeps a spare sweater in her office and drinks bourbon after work.
Reads beat-up old paperbacks by female writers from the fifties and sixties, books she carries around in canvas bags emblazoned with publishers' logos. Scribbles notes in the back of said books with a mechanical pencil.
Pretends she can still run up stairs, and tries to hide that she is becoming winded, cooks homemade pasta sauce and roasts chicken, changes into thick socks when she gets home.
Puts "Japan" on the top of her "wants to travel to" list.
Dresses on the younger side of her age even with the gray hair starting to show. Stops to sniff the dogwood blossoms or marvel at icicle formations on tree branches. Completes logic puzzles, abandons crossword puzzles.
Attends literary festivals and rock shows that sometimes keep her out late on weeknights and make her voice sound scratchy in the morning. Terrified of silverfish. Angry at death.
Good at dechoking artichokes. Quick to offer a stranger in the checkout line a spare penny or two.
At times: stubborn over the correct answer. At times: lazy and demanding.
Inclined to daydream and miss what you just said. Occasionally wears lipstick. Right-handed, but opens jars and bowls with her left.
Types 77 words a minute. Side-sleeper.
© Zan McQuade. All rights reserved.
Reader Comments (13)
I want to hug you. I love this. You can dechoke my choke anytime.
Best post EVER.
What a great post. Lovely and inspiring.
Late addition: Surrounded by good people. Grateful for kind comments.
Love this. May do a similar post (hope that's okay---will link to you, obviously!). You're so talented, Zan. You never fail to impress me.
I just followed your link from Alice's page, and what a neat post for my first view! Your're hired, in my opinion. Very cool.
bravo, this was so lovely!
I love this. I'm going to kiss you right on the mouth.
The mere thought of drafting a resume leaves me in a sheen of naked-fear sweat. This, this I loved.
Ditto to all above.
Yow. I think you're my dream girl. Sadly we're both taken, I think! ;)
I started a new resume months ago and used words like "managed" and "oversaw". Ditched the whole thing for my honest, tongue-in-cheek "this is REALLY who I am" breakdown. I like yours even better. Thanks for the inspiration. I may steal the word "jaunty".
wow. wonderful post. I just love it!! I have a feeling I'm not the only one who might borrow your idea.