New Gig

One of my early childhood memories involves a yellow pen, the kind with a grooved body and no cap or clicker mechanism, that was popular in the 1980s. I remember running my finger along the side where it had some letters and trying to spell out the words to myself before asking, "Mom, what does 'homemaker' mean?"

What I remember about her answer is the way her jaw set and her eyes flashed, how she didn't miss a beat in whatever household task she was completing at the time (we were in the downstairs bathroom, if I recall, so it could not have been a pleasant one), and the firmness of her voice. "It's my job," she said. "It's a job just like any other job, only it's harder and it doesn't pay money."

Well, that just sounded ridiculous. Why would anyone DO that?, I wondered.

Now I know. There are plenty of jobs that might be more satisfying (really, those sisyphean tasks of laundry, dishes, and picking up after husband and kid are NOT satisfying, no matter how you cut it) or have more bragging rights ("I am just back from building democracy in Yemen" -- I actually have friends who can say that, truthfully, and I'm like, huh, today I figured out how why Anika's snot is green), but nothing in this world is more rewarding or fulfilling than seeing a human being that you created with someone you love begin to explore the world and develop their own personality.

Still, being paid actual Benjamins would be nice once in awhile. That said, I'm happy to report that today I'm accepting a job as a freelance editor for an international development company out of San Francisco. The work will be on a part-time, as-needed basis, and will involve editing reports on projects from all over the world. I'll be doing some translating as well, and it will be nice to use some parts of my brain that have been dormant for awhile.

And yet I would be proud to own one of those pens my mom used to have. Although I believe the contemporary PC phrase is "Household CEO."