Journalism in the 21st Century

 Michelle Obama, happy birthday! Not to be a wet blanket, but at 50, you are lucky not to be on the job market. It's a jungle out there, even for women like you and I with beautiful biceps, handsome politician husbands and gorgeous daughters. OK, maybe that's just you. When I left my last full-time job, as an editor at Genomeweb in Manhattan, I was in my mid(ish) 40s. I remember attending a workshop at the Department of Labor in New York. A guy was handing out flyers to over-50s. "Oh, I'm not 50," I said, somewhat amused. I got a look like, 'okkkkk, Miss 46-and-a-half....' Someone there said, "I can talk to everyone about how to get a job after 50, how I did it. It can be done, but it will take perseverance and a bit of luck." Oh, give me a break! You're telling me this is difficult? I do not think so, chubby... I just needed to be there so I could officially collect my $400 a week or whatever it was for weeks I did not work. I