| abstract |
To The Warehouse is a personal review of coming of age in the twentieth century. Virginia Woolf is referenced in her memoir Moments of Being; she wrote her chronicle at the end of a long and prosperous life as a writer emerging from the Victorian age, where women were treated like commodities controlled by a male-centric society. The parallels to Woolf’s life between women in the science and medicine fields are apparent as I came of age in pharmacy in the twenty-first century. Women's professional roles included nurses expected to be subordinate to male physicians, secretaries who could type well and run an office, and teachers of young children.
Aging in our youth-centric society is explored by looking for meaning in the volunteer sphere. I explore the options open to a retired, high-functioning person trying to contribute to society by volunteering. The opportunities such as food banks, museum docents, library aid, and Habitat for Humanity are explored in detail. Personal accounts of working for Habitat for Humanity populate much of the writing for this dissertation, giving a birds-eye view of the daily workings in the Restore.
The meaning of shopping and the rise of consumerism is looked at with the appearance of shopping malls, teaching the value and processing of goods and services. The commodification of the Santa Claus myth is investigated, leading to an overview of gift-giving. The sociological effects of gifts are examined with the human need for connection and inclusion into various groups. The writers David Sedaris and Jean Sheppard add to my observations on the Santa Claus personification in American culture today.
The dissertation is rounded out with observations, stories of my children and their pets, and my grandchildren’s attachment to animals.
Lastly, I evaluate my personality formation growing up in an immigrant family dedicated to education as a means to enter the middle class. This creative dissertation revisits formative times and places that give meaning and propose. Understanding the underpinning of personal development is essential to maturation and meaning for successful aging. Included are stories and memoirs, artwork, poetry, and reflections on life.
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