TTBOOK GEMS

Jane Juska (GEMS - from program # 03-11-16-A: CULTURES OF DESIRE)

Trollope Works for Me

From an interview Jane Juska did with Anne Strainchamps on the Public Radio International program "To the Best of our Knowledge." At age 66, retired High School English teacher Jane Juska took out the following ad in The New York Review of Books, "Before I turn 67 next March, I would like to have a lot of sex with a man I like. If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me."

Jane Juska: When I went into this I knew all kinds of things could happen. I wasn't surprised that I fell in love with one of the men. I knew I could get beaten up even, both emotionally and physically. I could get a disease. All of these things. But I also knew that I could find great joy. If I was going to live a richer and fuller life I was going to have to be ready for all kinds of things. I couldn't just take the good parts. And so, I fell in love and I didn't say to myself, "Oh, shame on you." I just did it. I mean I could hardly help it. I guess I didn't want to help it.

Anne Strainchamps: You must have gotten more sexually experienced. Did you feel like you learned a lot about sex. Did you become a better partner in bed?

Jane Juska: Oh goodness. I don't know. (laughs). What can I say? What did I learn about sex? Well, first of all I grew up with what we now call "Bodice Rippers" - that kind of novel, the way Emma Bovary grew up, reading those kind of novels. And I expected sex to be like that. Even at age 67 I thought I should be able to be completely fulfilled and fulfilling the first time out. Well, sex may be natural but really good sex, at least in my experience, gets better with practice. So, I have had some practice and I must say it is an enjoyable way to spend one's time.

Anne Strainchamps: You were a High School English teacher, phenomenally well-read. A lot of people like you don't take the body all that seriously. I mean you might have decided to just go on and continue aging and have decided, "well, sex was just never really that big of a part of my life and not that important." What has it changed in your life to have sex become more primary?

Jane Juska: I feel richer and fuller. . . and happier. I never did say, "well, sex is not that big a deal." When I would think, "I do not have a sex life" I would be embarrassed, to myself. I did not go around saying this. But for me, something enormous was missing. And I was after some kind of completion. And it turned out to be this.

Anne Strainchamps: Do you still see any of the men you met?

Jane Juska: Yes I see three men whom I met by way of the ad.

Anne Strainchamps: And you still sleep together?

Jane Juska: Well, yes, but only one at a time (laughs).

Jane Juska (GEMS - from program # 03-11-16-A: CULTURES OF DESIRE)

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