No, the old Beth hasn’t left the building and become a sappy, melodramatic, queen of rednecks. I thought, “why make resolutions I know I will not keep, I’ll come up with New Year’s Hopes-better chances when hoping.”

The “hopes” I am posting are based purely on my own opinions, or real hopes. It’s up to you, the reader, to determine those most likely to come true.

1. I hope the media/entertainment industry halts all marketing for Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus. If I walk into another store and see a t-shirt, slippers, pillows, whatever, with her face I’ll scream. No, really, I will.
2. I hope I find a job in which I do not look at my co-workers each day and think to myself, (wanting to say it out loud, but refraining), “What the hell mother-ship dropped your ass off on my planet?”
3. I hope I stop smoking. If I didn’t smoke, I’d have money. I also wouldn’t wake up in the mornings, hacking like a 90 year old woman.
4. I hope all reality shows are banned. Unless a show has a family, sitting in the living room, the dad picking his nose and drinking Old Milwaukee, the mom scraping corns off her feet and the kids running around like they were raised in a barn, (and most likely are), the current programs are not reality.
5. I hope something I write is published, other than on my little blog. And I’m paid handsomely.
6. I hope I meet a man who bathes, brushes his teeth and has a job. He sweeps me off my feet and we ride off together in a vehicle without a gun-rack.
7. I hope people wake up and stop being so self-absorbed. Get over yourselves. The world isn’t all about you.
8. I hope one of my dreams come true. One from last year, regarding a pep talk phone call from Diane Sawyer on my 35th birthday, which didn’t happen and turning 35 has not been kind. Thanks, Diane. My hope-I’ll take a phone call, autographed picture, or letter/email from her or Meryl Streep. My role models. Two women I look up to. For God’s sakes, tell me the years after 35 get better.
9. I hope my mom finds herself, is blessed with good health and realizes I’ll always look after her. I hope I have the strength to take on the task and still live my own life.
10. I hope the country rebounds and peace comes to those who deserve it

There you have it, folks. My New Year’s Hopes. Do any of you have hopes for the upcoming year?

First, let me say, I’m not married and I do not have children, so I am by far not an expert in this area. However, when I was browsing through blogs via EntreCard, I came upon a post that not only shocked, but saddened me as well.

I will link to the blog I am referring to, Abstinence-Is-Sexy.com, because I want to ask, “What in Sam Hell are you thinking?” What is even more troublesome to me? A woman is behind the statement-and I am quoting,

“Married women with young children should stay home because doing so benefits themselves and their families. Plus, you’ll save money too. How cool is that?”

I respect her opinion. I am the daughter of a mother who did not have to work outside the home until my father passed away and she had no choice but to go back to the workforce when I was 16. Did her staying home all those years benefit me? I’m sure it did -but I grew up in the 70s and 80s, completely different times compared to today’s world. (We were considered upper-middle class then, now we would be lower middle class). She does state that a mother staying home isn’t right for all, but this is the only moment of clarity in thinking at all.

Let me ask you something. Have you watched the news lately? Do you live in an area where parents don’t have a choice but to work, some two jobs, just to keep food on the table, (barely), and the bills paid? Tell me, what would happen if the mother, in such a family, stayed home? The family would suffer, the children would go without the basic needs and the already confounded welfare system could not keep up with the demands. (Some abuse it, some need it- this is another topic). These people are not living lavish lifestyles where they could give up a vacation, or two, a Mercedes and stop attending cocktail parties. No, the women, who sacrifice time with their children are doing so, not because they want to be a man’s equal-they’re working in the hopes their children will have a better life, food in their stomachs and a roof over their heads. In an Utopian world your idea wouldn’t be an idea at all- it would be a reality. Unfortunately, reality today is a frightening place to be.

Am I a feminist because I disagree? If anyone wants to label me with the term, I’m perfectly ok with it. I admire the women who are able to stay home with their children. I also admire the women who are able to balance a career and be the nurturing mother every child deserves. With your post, though, I feel as if you have a skewed view of the world. June Cleaver doesn’t live here anymore. And yes, women can and do have it all-by their own choices and not at the expense of their children.

**Update: I am now officially obsessed with this film. I haven’t been so into a movie since, oh, yeah ok it was Grease and I had to put on shows for my mom and dad. Being 35, I think my mother would put me into a “special home” if I made her come here so I could sing and dance along with the movie-therefore I’m not even going to ask.**
Since the tender age of 2, I’ve had a love for anything musical. I used to gather my dolls and stuffed animals around me, make my mom put a Disney record on the turntable and I would perform while standing on the coffee table for my “audience.”

Let’s get one thing straight-Charleston, West Virginia isn’t a mecca for the theatre and aside from taking ballet/tap from the ages of 2-almost 5, voice lessons at 10 and a horrid year of theatre as a sophomore in High School, my fantasies of being a great stage and screen actress have been limited to my semi-obsession with movies and musicals. I haven’t felt this little spirit inside for years, that is, until I watched Mamma Mia! The Movie.

Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Stellan Skarsgård, and newcomer Amanda Seyfried, the movie is loosely based on the songs of ABBA, telling the story of a girl trying to find her dad before her wedding. This is as much of the plot I will give away-no pun intended. What I will say- I adored Mamma Mia. Not since Grease have I watched and re-watched, (for clarification, no I didn’t see it in the theatre because no one would go with me to see a “musical”-but I had connections I wasn’t aware of and well, let’s just keep it at that), scenes just to sing along. A huge majority of so-called critics hated the film version, mainly because the actors are generally not known for musical performances, or have the greatest voices for this type of genre. Guess what? I don’t care, and neither have the millions of people who saw the movie, yes it’s a chick-flick, so mostly women. It’s a fun, care-free 90+ minutes of woman power. (References of Aprodite, the Greek Goddess of Love, should give you a hint). Movies don’t always have to be serious, prominent works of “art” in order to gain acceptance of an audience and I think the critics were proved wrong-the film, is the 60th highest grossing of all-time and it was just released in the US in July. You walk away feeling as if you can do anything-that you can be a Dancing Queen.

Though I was just a tot when ABBA reached their peak of popularity, I have always enjoyed their music, the geek that I am. Most of the songs are in the movie-you can see the list in the IMDB.com link I provided above. Meryl Streep steals the movie-proving she really can do anything. (Not since Out Of Africa have I enjoyed her, I did like The Devil Wears Prada, but let’s face it she was a witch, albeit brilliant). Although the movie, (and musical), is primarily aimed at those who were old enough during the ABBA years to understand the music, I think women, (and girls), of all ages will enjoy it. Sources around the Internet state a mid-December DVD release-and this is one I will be adding to my collection.



Favorite quote from the movie said by Meryl Streep’s character: “I won’t be muscled out by an ejaculation.”