Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Women Over Forty

Sixty Minutes correspondent Andy Rooney is reported to have said, “As I grow in age, I value women over forty most of all. Here are a few reasons why: A woman over forty will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, ‘what are you thinking? She doesn’t care what you think.  
Women over forty are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you in an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you if she thinks she can get away with it. Older women are generous with praise that is often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over forty is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest.  They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you’re acting like one. You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.”
There’s more, but you get the point.
During my working years, I endured many types of discrimination because of my age and gender. One of them involved equal pay for doing the same job as my male counterparts. When I asked to be paid an equal wage, I was told, “But you’re just a woman!”  Unbelievable!
Another time I filled out an application for a job that was rejected. When I asked why, I was told, “We don’t hire women over forty.”
“So forty is the cutoff point?” I asked. “Our brains stop working when we reach the big 4-0?” I looked around the office and saw men in their sixties whose age was obviously not a factor. Thankfully, this is a thing of the past since a law was enacted that made it illegal to discriminate because of a person’s age.
We’ve come a long way since female doctors were not accepted in a community. Or when women writers could not write under their own name but had to resort to using a male pseudonym in order to have a book published. Thankfully, women’s dress, style, job opportunities and education have changed dramatically. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting there.
An anonymous person once said…
“For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old.”
Now there you go.

 
Kids can help you prepare this packet for grilling. One packet for each person you plan to serve.  

Dinner in a Packet
Taste of Home

1 boneless pork loin chop (4 ounces)
1 medium potato, sliced
1 large carrot, sliced
1/4 cup frozen peas
1 tablespoon onion soup mix

Place the pork chop on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. x 14 in.). Top with potato, carrot and peas. Sprinkle with soup mix. Seal foil tightly.
Grill, covered, over medium heat for 30-35 minutes or until meat juices run clear, turning occasionally. Carefully remove foil to allow steam to escape.
Yield: 1 serving.