I was sitting across the desk from a man who was offering me a job. A very good job. He smiled at me--big, square, white teeth. I later found out his father was a dentist and I was much less impressed by his oral hygiene. Of course, if you live with a famous chef you're going to eat well. Same thing. He had the up-front advantage of having an in-house expert, probably describing the dangers of plaque at least once a day.

And sometimes, the up-front advantage is not what you think it's going to be. When I was interviewing for this particular job, I knew my past experience was going to be an advantage. I had 'made good' as my mother would have said, had she lived long enough. "Go out there and make something of yourself", she'd say, "I'll bet you could even be a teacher or a nurse!" That's not how I later found success, but I never understood her expectations of me anyway. I knew the world was changing and she'd never live to see it.

Yes, those were the days many of us have filed away somewhere in our scrapbooks called Old Stuff. It wasn't until recent television programming resurrected the workplace of the mid-20th century, that people had any idea what it was like out there. If you don't remember where you were when JFK was shot, you may think the world was somewhat like an episode of Mad Men. It wasn't. Women with good jobs were mostly accused of sleeping their way to the top. Or near the top. Late night trysts in a dark office could move you to a nicer spot--maybe. But it was a long way from the executive' couch to the executive chair (without him still sitting in it...)

 I once had a job where I was reprimanded and practically chased from the building with lit torches--torches held by the other women in the office. My crime was refusing to be put into the coffee rotation. Each week one of  "the girls" would take her turn making, replenishing and, throughout the day, serving coffee to the males.

"Honey? Can you get me a cup of coffee? You know how I like it, right?"

Well, no, and I didn't want to know how each man in the office wanted his coffee, nor did I want to learn. The women were angry with me because I was going "all Gloria Steinem on 'em" and it would cause trouble for everyone--all the other girls, that is. Why if they had known I was a feminist bra-burner, they'd have very likely not hired me at all. I had just turned 22, I didn't drink coffee, had never made coffee, and why the heck couldn't the suits make and fetch their own damn coffee anyway?

Well, I was out of there quickly. And out of a job, too. They mailed me my check: $68 (gross, not net) for the week I'd worked. (I was a Wall Street interest analyst.) I knew that wasn't where I wanted to be anyway and started moving in new directions.

I made my way through all of the jobs in my chosen field, strategically staying clear of the old-timers I'd left. Sometimes, I would run into one of the caveman types, but as I grew older and more experienced, I learned how to handle those situations with a bit more grace. I loved working and was admired for my efforts. It couldn't be denied. I was good.  At some point, I even started drinking coffee but I made my own.

Now, again in the office with the dentist's son, offering me an excellent opportunity to be a senior executive. I am way older than 22 by that time--older than most of the other employees and management. I had read my employment contract the night before and it looked great.

"So, what's your answer?" grinned The Grinner.

It felt like a marriage proposal. "I accept." It was the beginning of a new beginning.

Smiley called the other VPs to come on downstairs and congratulate me. Five more men filed in happily welcoming me aboard.

"My Lady," said one of the five, slightly bowing,  "you've finally made it! How does it feel?"

I laughed and told him he could call me by my first name.  A little joke.

"You know," he continued, "you're the first female VP we've ever had! This should be interesting!"

Interesting? "Why haven't you had a woman in a senior position before?" You'd think I might have asked this sooner. It just never ocurred to me that I would be the first. 

"There were none as smart as you and certainly, none were as pretty."

I held my tongue, feeling it would be too difficult to respond with that bit of grace I'd acquired years ago.

"Which one of those traits clinched it? Which was my inside advantage?" I asked.

We all shook hands and the man with the mega-watt smile stepped in fast saying  "You're just perfect for this job that's all."

"And,  he continued, you're on our team now. The Guy's Team. The main thing is that you made it!"

Walking out the door, into the cool night to celebrate with a drink, I felt like I had come so far--but hadn't really made it. I wasn't even sure what that meant.

On my back, I could feel the heat of the torches, and the cries of the women wielding them.

"Don't stop!",  yelled a voice in the distance. "We're right behind you!"