Monday, April 22, 2013

Clueless, they are.

I had a long, internet conversation with an older Mason a couple of nights ago. He mentioned that they are not getting many new, younger members. He said young men just weren't interested in joining "social" organizations. I told him I could explain that. He asked me to do so.

What followed was a long discussion of the treatment and attitude toward women of the Masonic order. I told him about sitting and waiting while the men do their thing, about being expected to hostess entertainment for all the "ladies" doing likewise. About sitting at dinner tables while my husband and the man on the other side of me talked across me as if I was not even there and the demeaning jokes told.

I told him that today's women are not going to accept that kind of behavior from their husband/boyfriend.

He talked about the "unchangeable" nature of the rituals. I said I didn't think most modern men would find the path to "enlightenment" much enhanced by the archaic and, frankly, silly rituals of the lodge.

In the end, he said something to the effect of "I'm sorry you feel that way."

My reply was "Evolve or perish." I'm betting on the latter.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Waiting for his return, yet again.

It's Sunday morning and he'll be home this afternoon after 5 days absence for a Grand convention. I want to be excited to see him. Knowing that all I am going to hear is the details of the event for the next several days, just as it was all he talked about for the week prior, does not thrill me.

So, I will listen until my eyes glaze over. And I'll find out what new commitments he's been offered and declined/accepted. I can tell from his call last night that something is up. I know that they keep asking him to take yet another office.

Next year, he's the grand pubah for another group. I'm sure it won't be the last. I have heard other Mason's refer to their Masonic "career." Clearly, that's what I'm in for. A career in waiting.

Monday, January 28, 2013

The not so hidden costs of "appointments."

A few nights ago, my husband shared with me that he "would not be surprised" if he was appointed to a "prestigious" position by one of his friends. My first question, as it is every time he says something like this, was "What does this entail?".

"Only four meetings a year....in Las Vegas." Translated into reality: four plane tickets and how many nights lodging, meals, and entertainment?

We had a frank discussion about how we have only one pocket for all this to come out of. We're trying to save for retirement. My spending is often criticized as being excessive or unnecessary, but he does not see the Masonic expenses in the same light.

I think he got it, we'll see.