Air Park Life

Living in an airpark
Sounded exciting, even fun
It could have been
It should be
The lot was beautiful
But unknown and unseen
unspeakable danger lurked in the quiet places between the runway and the woods

I knew I was in trouble
when we attended our first homeowners meeting
A kindly neighbor approached, introduced himself ,
welcomed my husband and looked at me
“Women sit in the back and don’t say much…” he smiled.
I smiled in return, got up and moved forward to the third row
“Play nice” my husband whispered in hushed tones sitting down beside me.

I’ve played nice, tried hard to fit in
My Stepford Airpark Village is a place where
men come to find comradery, fun and fulfillment in their retirement
yet
women come to die
slowly, painfully going thru the steps
of denial, bargaining, anger, creeping madness
and finally the silent passive acceptance that knows no hope.

Isolation and loneliness get most of them
the monthly “girls” meetings only prolonging their agony
I will succumb to intellectual death… the lack of ideas and debate
Biblical quotes taken out of context, and the anger of those
who see my resistance as threatening to us all
I rail against the coming darkness
Escaping whenever possible into the world of friends, rivers, Spain and politics

Save me……
No, wait…..the “For Sale” sign goes up today!