Mad Men Finale Tonight.......What I Learned from Mad Men

Okay, I gotta be honest here. I wasn't interested in Mad Men at first.

It seemed like a "man's show" to me. And not just any man's show.

The kind of show that the kind of men that I don't like would watch.

(My first husband watched it.)

But then something happened that sparked my interest, I don't remember what, and I was hooked. And I have to be even more honest. I don't think it has always been awesome. This last season especially has really been a drag. But I have faith in Matt Weiner that he won't let us down and will really pull this out big time tonight. And despite all of my bitchy criticism,

I must admit it has been one of the best shows on television in my lifetime.

That and The Sopranos. (No small coincidence there.)

So here I go with the list of things I learned from Mad Men:

Rich, creative white guys sit alone and think an awful lot.

It was hard being a strong woman in the all boys club. Even with a body and a brain.

Not all 60's fashion was awesome.

I'm grateful that women fought the war of the sexes for me and made my work life much

safer, and in many ways, easier.

As a mother, there's not much an afternoon cocktail can't cure.

As a secretary, a cigarette will do the trick.

If you're gonna lose your shit, why not with one of your biggest clients?

The right attitude could take you all the way from Brooklyn to your own office with a

view and a title....it just might take some time.

Even with all the scenes in high-rise offices, there were still hippies in the 60's.

And creative types still often had the hardest go of it.

Parenting wasn't any easier or harder back then, but may have involved less psychology.

Some office affairs may actually bring a sweet dividend.

And some are even sweeter because they never crossed that line.

Some people are always outrunning a name.

Some people are always outrunning a past.

Women.....goddamm......what a lot of trouble.

At least some things are easier today.

British people are fun to work with!

Having a partner in crime......

Can sometimes make all the difference.

It's not as easy as it looks. None of it. It never is.

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