Saturday November 14 2015  A SHORT BLOG

At least I hope it is short.  It is already almost 9:00 p.m. and I need my bed!  A busy, fun day.  Awake at 4:30 a.m. and a full day ahead.  Early work out at the gym, office work preparing for a final consultation for my last wedding album order which will take place tomorrow, cooking (more soup), and off to dinner at the Boy Scout Salmon dinner fund raiser.  This was the 21^st anniversary of the annual Salmon dinner.  Twenty one years ago our son was in Scout troop #50 and as his parents we were involved in organizing the very first Salmon dinner, held at a local school.  It has happened every year since.  The cost for Senior Citizens is $8.00.  Not bad for a delicious fresh cooked, fresh Washington Salmon, flown in by special order.  I also ordered a whole alder wood, smoked grilled Salmon fillet, hot off the grill for only $15.00.  I think we will be eating Salmon for a few days.  They also gave us a big bowl of wild rice mixed with other grains.  Delicious. 

We  are now home listening to another presidential debate.  Dave is watching the T.V. and I am listening from an adjacent room.  I want to hear every presidential debate regardless whether Republican or Democrat.  It is quite interesting.  Since I am retired I may need to start watching more T.V. during this next year. I find it interesting to become informed in what is happening politically in a presidential election year. I would like to be involved in helping my candidate become elected.  I have no commitments to a candidate of choice at this time.   It will be interesting to find out who ends up as the presidential candidates.  But…I am trying to hold back with committing myself to anything this next year due to all that we intend to accomplish in the coming months.  So perhaps I will just sit back on the sidelines and just listen.

My sister sent me a blog today that I found interesting.  It is in reference to the blog that I wrote yesterday about how I now really did feel retired.  Here is the excerpt I especially enjoyed:

“I feel like I should have a retirement farewell party for you.  Now you can be on your retirement honeymoon for one year.  That is what I called my freedom from work and I reveled in it”

“A RETIREMENT HONEYMOON FOR ONE YEAR”.   I love it!  That sounds exactly what I need.  I highlighted it in red because I shall receive it as wisdom.  I shall spend the year getting used to being retired sort of like when a young couple spends their first year becoming used to each other.  I shall woo my year, treat it gently, and fall in love with it more and more each day.  I won’t count this past year as being retired due to the fact that I was so busy, first with traveling, then recovering from surgery, taking care of my husband’s needs as he recoverd from his infection and now recovering from surgery.  I am just glad I was off work and able to have the time to help him.  Hopefully after the first of the year we will begin with a new slate and our focus will be on our Honeymoon year.  We willtackle getting our home organized and ready for the rest of our lives together.  Who knows, we may have another 42 years together.  Oh dear, that sounds a little frightening.

RETIREMENT HONEYMOON

By Kathleen Martens

November 14, 2015

Celebratory nuptials happen more than once.

The first, love between husband and wife.

The next is when you begin again,

After retirement for the rest of your life.

And the triumphant day after

Is when shackles are removed.

No clock to punch or half hour lunches,

And no longer, are your moments cued.

The day of freedom, “independently wealthy”??

Hoping it lasts, longer than you.

Hoping inflation will be kept low,

So your dollars won’t be too few.

But above all, each day is different,

Every day, new excitement lends.

You learn to protect your hours and days

They can be used up by all your friends.

You must learn to say no

Your honeymoon to survive,

As others give free wisdom

On how to live your life

So set your course, say no to some

And take it easy, enjoying yourself.

And remember your dreams, for now is the time

You can take them off the shelf.

Good night.  God bless and keep you!

P.S.  The news is forecasting that we may be receiving snow by Friday!