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Funny. Life is Still the Same. Ish.

By April 9, 2009News, The Business

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Last night was Passover – when Jews from all over the world and their friends remember our history as slaves and celebrate our freedom.

Now – of course I understand that my life is mountains better than my bondaged ancestors. I’m not that deluded.

But, at our Seder last night, we were asked to role play (something I truly abhor) and my character was that of a Jewish slave woman in Egypt. The description looked something like this:

You work 12 hour days working with all different kinds of people that you don’t know, doing hard labor that is sometimes demeaning around people that can make you feel uncomfortable. Then, you go home & have to perform wifely duties such as cooking, cleaning, mending, caring for family & ‘stuff’ to please your spouse….

At first I was annoyed. Dare I say, bratty. How could I know how this woman feels? cough, cough. Let’s break this down, shall we?

  • You work 12 hour days (Yes. Yes, I do.)
  • …working with all different kinds of people that you don’t know (Today we call that ‘working virtually’)
  • …doing hard labor that is sometimes demeaning (As in writing about the benefits of mobile dry cleaning or cheap land in the Bahamas? Yes, but hey, I’m supporting my family here!)
  • …around people that can make you feel uncomfortable (Uh huh – spammers on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn and in my email box and in my blog comments – talking about how size does matter and helps you get the girl)
  • …Then, you go home & have to perform wifely duties such as cooking, cleaning, mending, caring for family & ‘stuff’ to please your spouse….(Okay, the ‘stuff’ isn’t so bad, but the rest of it bites)

Holy shit! I AM a Jewish slave woman!

Besides the fact that I have chosen every beautiful moment in my life…and love it. Still…I love a good Kvetch. Don’t you?

Image courtesy of Irargerich

Join the discussion 7 Comments

  • Heid says:

    And of course, the difference between you and the slave woman, which the description given to you left out, is exactly that you chose your life, and she did not. Choice is the difference between slavery and freedom.

  • Meghan says:

    Your post gave me a good laugh this morning. I myself come from a long line of Irish Liberals, so I KNOW I carry those same ancient traditions of my darlin Irish female ancestors, Having a big opinion, a big mouth, a big attitude and a big problem with injustice. :-)
    LOL

  • Julie Roads says:

    Exactly…that’s my own final point at the end there…I am so grateful for the many choices that I have…

  • Julie Roads says:

    Meghan – I married an Irish lass…so I totally get that.

  • Meghan says:

    Yea, we Irish chicks rock. LOL

  • --Deb says:

    I’m just laughing … what a realization! Thank God for women’s lib and democracy, huh? And, oh yeah, freedom of choice!

  • Mary Lawler says:

    At some point in history all our ancestors were invaded, enslaved, persecuted and degraded. That’s what happens in “power over” male cultures. You and I may have it better but women all over the world, including right here, do not.
    Even in our liberated lives the expectations and the “power over” remains. I am grateful and impressed that even under the most horrific of conditions women in every culture have managed to achieve great things, large and small and maintained their inner power with grace and dignity.
    (Especially the Irish!)

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