Blessed and Grateful: Retirement Reflection

              I had no concept of retirement except what I watched in the lives of others. I knew that it was time to embrace something different. My heart was pulling me further away from work routines. Routines comfort the psyche, but sameness that dulls must be dealt with.  A jolt of different usually works.
                For six weeks after Retirement Day, I slept.  It seems that when I sat down, I’d take a nap: hour-long sleeps, or more. I could not get rested.  And then, I was rested, revived.  Walks, fresh air, sunshine and peace can do a body more good than milk.
                 No one seemed concerned about me in retirement, but they thought Marvin would go nuts. Neither of us is any nuttier than we were previous to vacating the workplace.  Marvin and I have found that we stay occupied, and act more by what seems right to do than what we “ought” or “should” do. His projects are enormous, in my estimation.  The house is a man-sized adventure – inside and out, so his “self” stays stoked. His energy also channels into city enterprises, community outreach endeavors, and total immersion, as this is his Hometown.  Our families need our expertise from time to time, and we love having the ability to step in when we can do the most good. We have taken some cool trips and have more in mind.  Watch for us if you live “out West.”
                 My involvement reflects my interests, energy, and abilities:  Clay County Arts Council, Rector Community Center, Hemingway-Pfeiffer Writer’s Retreat, Writers Ink, some of Marvin’s endeavors (I’m secretary and side-kick) plus the church choir.  My calendar is as full as I want it, plus I read the paper and sip my coffee, starting my day in leisure. I’ve found several shopping Meccas and totally love my Amazon Prime experiences. Using my laptop for social interaction, shopping, writing, and exploring beats PowerSchool black and blue! 
                I am not “driven.”  I have nothing to prove and am not charged with righting wrongs or saving the world.  I can’t do that anyway, but always felt that I should try.  What an enormous responsibility lifted.

While there are friendly acquaintances here in Retirement Rector and surrounding area, friends of the caliber and strength I have in Memphis will not ever be matched.  We’ve lived our life with friends from “the past” and have roots deeper than time. These friends stick. Friendly folks here are enjoyable, but there is not time on earth or depth of experiences required for growing true friendships.  It’s fun to be sociable, but I am not looking to build abiding friendships such as those I have with cherished life-long friends.

Retirement:  It’s a next step.  It is a different avenue, a new path, and I thrive on a “little bit new and different.”  I am blessed that I have health, life, and ability to enjoy this new adventure.  I am grateful to God that my life has meandered down a winding path to this point. Twists and turns, segues and sojourns led me, and it is marvelous, beyond what I ever imagined. God has done this same thing with me forever.  He gave me my children, He gave me my health and life, He grew in me a gentler heart, and opened my understanding of the world to embrace what He gives, not what I plan.

The Occupying Army Has Moved Out and I Miss Them

      For a wonderful Christmas week, we have had the pleasure of being occupied by our family.  They visited with robust joy; they ate with celebratory vigor; they gifted with generous spirit, and were recipients with grace, charm, and grateful hearts. 

        What an absolute pleasure to watch 18 mo. Aubrey explore the hallway to her bedroom with toddler speed. Soon we’d recognize that where there was quiet, immediate investigation was required! She was more into ripping paper, pulling colored tissue from gift bags, and trying to grab her mama’s cell phone!  Zach was a very polite teenage guest, laughing along with everyone when we gave him a coupon for $10 off a Barbie Doll as a “gotcha gift!” Renee’ and Cheryl’s families’ conversations are lively and I’m glad they are “on my side.” I would not want these two plotting against me!
             When Marvin’s family drove away to their homes, we filled up the gas tank the next morning and drove over to Hwy 22 off I-40 at Lexington, TN, meeting Maureen and Richard to bring him in for Christmas.  At the same time, David and Colby were headed to us from Memphis. By 6PM, we were all gathered for Christmas Eve supper and a rousing game of Mexican Dominoes!  Marvin always wins, regardless of what position at the table he occupies.  He also keeps score.  Hmmmmm.
            Christmas Day was a delight! We did not awake at dawn-thirty but we were glad we had lots of batteries!  David acted as Santa for the Day.  Wow!  What a celebration of Joyful Giving. The gifts I was expecting to arrive had been delivered USPS at the n-th hour on Christmas Eve, so I was relieved. Everybody was so excited about their Christmas gifts.  It was quite simply:  Awesome! Christmas Night we watched the approaching snow storm as we began work on a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle, set out on the dining room table.

Richard got the DriveOut Tag for his truck and motored on to Memphis by 2PM with the highways being deemed “in good shape” after our 10” Blizzard in Clay County.  Memphis only had a dusting – 1” so his drive there to spend time with David and meet up again with Maureen was just fine.
         
We missed Maureen being with us, since she was with her family in Nashville.  Marvin’s son and family have a moved to Houston, TX, in a new job with a wonderful opportunity. 
                          Other than that, this Christmas ranks toward the TOP for being occupied by family, an experience I will always treasure.

 

ROCK This House

               Crank it up, Ladies!  Turn the volume on “In The Next County!”- as in, “Turn that record player down! They can hear it over in the Next County!”  Ok, Daddy.
               Blast your speakers out with David Foster and Mannheim Steamroller, Morman Tabernacle and Josh Groban.  Throw in Alvin and the Chipmunks, Theme from Home Alone! Don’t forget “I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas!” When the UPS and FedEx guys arrive, invite them in, if they can hear your invitation over “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.”  They will refuse, because you have flour all through your hair and splotching your face, plus, you have on a Santa Apron!
              My great-grandmother Gordon and the other Grand Matrons of Camden, Arkansas, developed a recipe for Christmas Cookies that are colloquially known as “ROCKS.”  At least 10 healthy pecan trees were laden with fruit, right there in the side and back yards of the Big House, so we always had pecans for recipes, and all the ladies shelled and picked out pecans. At least 1 cup chopped pecans should be loaded into the Rocks.  Also, cut-up pieces of candied fruit and about ¼ cup of “whiskey.”   Alas, I do not add the whiskey, though it was a standard in many Gordon recipes. I add some Mexican Vanilla, and it gives the cookies a punch.  Well, I rocked out this afternoon to the strands of “Tender Tennessee Christmas,” plus I made a batch of “icebox cookie dough” to top off the afternoon.  That dough is divided into 4-8 portions, wrapped in wax paper, and placed in the “icebox” to set up, prior to baking the next day. These mainstays of Christmas plus a batch of Peanut Butter Fudge will finish up my baking tomorrow.
              I saw on Pintrest a super-cute way to gift baked goods to neighbors, so I’m planning on that Saturday.  And sometime I have to wrap those packages the UPS and FedEx guys have so graciously brought to my door step.
              Now, I am going to ROCK myself to sleep in my comfortable chair, like Richard did one afternoon after pre-school.  He climbed into Poppy’s chair, and started rocking in wild fun, and the next thing we knew, he was asleep! I feel a nap coming on just thinking about it.
             Rock On, Ladies!  ROCK ON! Turn on the Christmas music, turn it up LOUD. Dance, Cook, and Enjoy the season.  It’s a sure way to jump start the Christmas Spirit, even if you’re having some Charlie Brown difficulties!