Did you notice that it was usually Sally doing the typing? Typing was definitely a “girl’s job” back then.

When I was a kid, I always just assumed that I’d be Laura Petrie when I grew up. I assumed I’d get married and I’d get to stay home while my husband went to work and my kids went to school. Then I’d get to hang out with Millie all day. Well, that’s not how my life turned out. Surprise! Women’s Lib came along, and women were suddenly expected to go out to work. Now I don’t even get to live in my own house at night. I’m a government contractor, living in a hotel Monday through Thursday. At least my husband has the house nice and clean for me when I come home for weekends.

Do you think Sally was a closet lesbian?

- RG>

*only slightly

- RG>

Sheryl – Wow. That’s quite a switch from music to law. If you love what you’re doing, money is really secondary — provided you’re not starving and living on the streets of course. That would dampen any passion you have for your work pretty quickly.

Even though Dick VanDyke was controversial with Laura wearing slacks, they still made Sally do all the typing, although she did contribute to the writing too.

Other than a short stint wanting to be a missionary (I was thoroughly caught up in the mass “conversion” think that happens at an evangelists “tent show”) Otherwise, all I ever wanted to do was because a classical musician. I was on learning my third instrument when the band director fired me. Hard to believe a teacher can do that. But, a girl wanted my spot and he was sleeping with her mother. Needless to say, I was devistated. My grades plummeted and while I did get my diploma, I quit after my Junior year.

Fast forward, I’m 26 and in college for pre-law. Had a guaranteed spot in a successful law firm I was clerking for too. Money aside, I did the right thing, I would have been miserable.

Fast forward, I’m an artist. Before I got sick I was making a wage about 1/4 of the poverty guideline. But, I love it and I do not have to be my and my kids sole support anymore. I am learning to play the violin on the side.

I’m hoping to fulfill my more creative ambitions on evenings and weekends.

Mo – Did he ever do anything besides Richie? How whacked out can you get from 10 seconds of TV exposure per week for a few years? And, why did you leave a job you loved so much for a soul-sucking job that seems to be killing you?

Alison – Well, geology is close to archeology and wildlife — it’s all science and outdoors. Your job has always sounded very cool to me. There aren’t a lot of cool jobs in government — people all seem to somehow end up there. I used to work with people who were architects, engineers, scientists, designers — all in the same department and all they did was look at the work of architects, engineers, scientists and designers in the private sector and push papers around in response. Seemed kinda sad.

Uma – We’ll see. We’ll see. I’ll give you a day by day, blow by blow account.

Bob – Thanks. Those journalistic/writer skills you have should be easily transferable to any number of areas, wouldn’t you think? But then again, it never hurts to broaden your horizons. I know you’d never consider moving, but the field might be more open in other regions of the province or even country. The first thing I always said I’d do if I found myself jobless was to sign with some temp agencies. They keep your skills sharp, keep some money rolling in and get you a foot in the door of all sorts of places you’d normally never have access to. There are temp agencies now for all sorts of skill sets from secretarial pool to the executive level.

Charlene – Madonna was always a weird hag, she just got away with it when she was young because she was young. Nothing has actually changed except that she has a few more years under her belt. She’s in awesome shape; still sings and dances just like she always did; still does freaky stuff. Anyway, you seem more or less happy with your life, so just as well you never became Madonna, I guess