Tell Me My Worth

I don’t know what’s more difficult: moving or selling your home.

Frankly, I think both of them are a pain in the butt! And lately, I’m thinking that maybe adding some medicinal marijuana to my chocolate chip cookies may be good for what ails me.

For the past 6 months, the Princess and I have been prepping for the big move to the state of WA, and as much as I’m excited and looking forward to this new chapter in my life, I’m also sad about saying goodbye to loved ones here in CA and a tad frightened of the unknown of what lies ahead.

Recently, our CA home was professionally staged, by a young woman who spent all of 45 minutes schlepping our furniture around and strategically placing a couple of lamps and pictures in our rooms. This Herculean endeavor cost our realtor $1600, and our house looks like a million bucks.

But $1600 for moving furniture around? Seriously?

Damn!

I think I spent too much time in college getting all those degrees for a field of study that in my earlier years, paid $1600 for the whole month.

What was I thinking?

When I was a kid, the school’s career counselor asked me, “So, what do you want to study after you graduate from high school, Lucie? Nursing? Secretarial science? Education?”

“I think you’d make a good teacher,” he continued, and off to an all-woman’s college I headed with my future career firmly etched in stone.

Never, and I mean NEVER, did I ever hear him or any one of my counselors broach the topic of me pursuing a career as an astrophysicist, or an electrician, or a veterinarian, or any one of a bazillion other fields of study that I, as a woman, could have pursued. Mind you, my science grades weren’t anything to write home about, and I couldn’t tell you which end of the chord to plug in on the vacuum cleaner; so becoming an electrician might have been stretching it a bit, but gee whiz, he could have directed me toward becoming a house stager or maybe even a professional belly dancer.

Then, again, there wasn’t too much demand for house stagers in upstate New York in those days, and my belly wasn’t very Buddha-like in my youth to pursue the art of belly dancing. So, maybe teaching wasn’t such a bad field to encourage me to pursue. I always liked kids, and I played school for hours-on-end on our rickety, uneven back porch that needed to be condemned long before we ever moved into the place.

And, here I sit today in a million dollar, staged home thinking about this 30-something-year-old stager who did her job in a quick 45 minutes and got paid this obscene amount of money for moving furniture around, and I’m asking myself: “What kind of society and time period am I living in when the value of a house stager, and basketball player, and movie star are all paid so much more than those of us entrusted with shaping our country’s future?”

I am truly happy that this young woman is earning her creative worth, and I hope that other young women start demanding their fair share of the pie. I just hope that in my lifetime that what I did for a living becomes as important to others as the house stager and the basketball player and the movie star.

Until then, I need to keep packing and hiding my underwear and cat bowls in the closet, and wait for the house appraiser to do his job this week and tell me my worth.

Have a great week, People, and I’ll catch ya the next time, looking at life from my shoes.

Published by

Lucie

I'm a retired special ed teacher, born in upstate NY, who spent most of my adult life in the SF/Bay Area and moved to the Olympic Peninsula of WA in June of 2017. At the encouragement of family and friends, who followed my silliness on my FB page, I started this blog a few years ago. I try to keep my topics as humorous as possible (because I believe "LIFE" is pretty serious these days), but will, on occasion write about more solemn subjects. I sincerely appreciate all who take the time and effort to read and make comments and am truly humbled when people actually "like" what I write. I do not participate in the "Wordpress awards" because I feel "awarded" when individuals actually read me and comment, but sincerely appreciate all of you who have considered me "award worthy" and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Hugs, Lucie

23 thoughts on “Tell Me My Worth”

    1. You’re too kind, Buddy…..just got back from Seattle….needless to say, it was a trip “worth writing about”….just hafta get outta my clothes that I’ve been hangin’ in for 3.5 days before I can start writing about it!!!! I’m tellin’ ya, if I don’t start drinking or doing drugs, soon, it’ll be a small miracle!!!!! ;>)

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  3. I have moved a couple of times, and I don’t ever intend to do it again, thank you VERY much.
    My first husband – the Late and Unlamented – left me bankrupt, and I had to move out of the house so it could be sold to settle his debts. I only lived in my new apartment for a week before a neighbor broke in and beat me up. I lived with my parents for three months and then had a Section Eight apartment for two years.
    The Squire and I bought this place when we got married, and we’ve been here over forty years. This house represents a lot of things – a safe harbor, a sign of our mutual success, the marriage we have built, and a lot more.
    Our oldest daughter is moving three states away and wants us to move, too. No thanks.

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    1. I could deal with a “safe harbor” tonight….yes siree…this selling and buying is NOT for the faint of heart, I’ll tell ya….Hugs…..Lucie

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    1. Haven’t a clue, but my instinct tells me it wasn’t a lot…. (if any). It’s her family’s business. I’m not in any way implying that she wasn’t (and isn’t) talented, just pointed out the discrepancy in how society views and values different positions.

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  6. Hi Lucie
    When all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed on this wonderful sea change for you and the Princess are done and dusted, you are going to be one very RELIEVED woman. It is not too far away now and even all the way down here in Australia, I am so excited for you both. It gives me goosebumps, I realise you haven’t reached goosebump stage quite yet but it will happen mate.
    Your students will have been grateful that your career counsellor steered you in the direction of teaching, I bet they all loved you and your values. 🎓💜💙💜💙
    Besides I’ve heard belly dancing takes it’s toll on your belly button, Electricians, definitely there is a pre requisite of knowing how to plug in a vaccuum cleaner. Basketball, you gotta be tall and fast, a Movie Star has to be Nuts’ and Gorgeous, ( you come close there mate ). Clearly you chose the perfect career ( all that study was worth it ) and you were THE BEST AND MOST VALUED TEACHER, I BET!!!!!!!!!!
    I hope your house stager was worth every penny of that $1600 and the valuer is worth his weight in gold and informs you your home is worth big bucks mate..
    All that aside Lucie, you are pretty damn valuable to me mate..
    Your stories are priceless to me and many more folk that read them.
    I look forward to reading them every week, they are real and from the heart. 😘❤❤
    I am praying and have everything crossed that this transition for you and the Princess runs as smooth as silk.
    Big ol’ warm fuzzy hugs headed your way across the miles
    From
    Annie in Australia 🌞 🌴 🌊 💜 💜 💋 💋

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    1. Aw…..your long distance love and support holds me when I’m “slipping into the abyss”…can’t wait until this is over. The cats and I are totally wacked!!! ;>) ❤

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  9. A few giggles from
    Your ma as I read this to her.
    As for me I say: Being a teacher is honorable and you were a blessing to your students. Life turned out pretty good! The best to you and the princess as you begin your new adventure.

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