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!

December: Join in the Celebration!

Christmas Festivities –The 12 days of Christmas in Rector, AR- 2012!
     On the FIRST DAY, someone will OD during the NIGHT OF CHOCOLATE, a salute to the excessive indulgence in chocolate.  Night of Chocolate is a celebratory dinner theatre event with a plethora of chocolate desserts, inspiration of the Clay County Arts Council. Even if an excessive amount of chocolate consumption and a chocolate fountain suggest otherwise, please, no partridges! 

      On the next DAYS of CHRISTMAS, I’ll avoid Doves and Hens, Geese and Swans. But, it’s GOOD LUCK to have a BIRD and a NEST in your Tree. The wreath for the front door is a creation of ribbon, netting and ornaments, featuring browns, golds, pine cones, a couple of flashy, whispy-tailed gold accent birdies, plus a splash of turquoise. About 50 lights give the design a golden glow, spectacular with the brick colors of the house.
     Soon, Ladies and Lords will dance and leap during the Rector Christmas Parade and Festival of Lights Extravaganza. Floats, bands, and beauty queens will promenade brightly down Main Street. The festive event concludes at the Community Center with a party featuring desserts, entertainment, and an opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap!

     On the Golden Days of Christmas, I’ll salute WHITE GOLD!  The formal tree occupies a corner at the den entrance.  It will feature natural fiber cotton bolls (White Gold), along with 2 Christmas Cotton decorative stems I bought at Charlene’s. I do love that tree, decorated in cream, brown, green, white, and of course, a turquoise touch.  The Traditional Family Christmas tree reminds me of stockings and mice napping, and lovely days of cookies and milk for Santa. That tree will be in the downstairs den by the fireplace where my sons would expect it.
     Pipers and Drummers will declare Deck Wars (version 2.0).  Let the fun continue. My offering was a weak second compared to my neighbor’s gargantuan red lighted bow that can be seen “for miles.” I’ll have to try harder this year.
     Finally, the Maid(s) will be cleaning!  Alas, the only Maid in my house is ME.

The theme for Christmas Weekend and Christmas Eve is “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965). Linus speaks to Charlie Brown who is “depressed,” lamenting the commercialism of Christmas.  Linus reads from Luke (KJV): “I bring you good tidings of great joy! For unto us is born this day….a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”  That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!  Marvin’s children and grandchildren will celebrate with us on Christmas Weekend and my children will be arriving Christmas Eve! Let Us Never Forget: Christ is the Reason we Celebrate.

Peace, Love, and Hostess Cupcakes

     Twinkies, I learned when teaching 8^th graders, have a shelf-life of 10 years or more.  Preservatives, sugar, sponge cake, cream filling, more sugar, and more preservatives fuel ADHD kids to delirium.  At the conclusion of one notable parent-teacher conference, the mom confessed, “I knew I should not have let him eat all those Twinkees.”
     Hostess cupcakes (orange=my favorite), Ding-Dongs/King Dongs, Twinkees, fried pies, and other delights that sugared our childhoods may forever fall from the grocery shelves and along with them, colorful balloon packaged Wonder Bread. With so much name recognition and brand surety, another buyer must rescue the company.  Childhood and second childhoods would not be the same without Hostess.
     Nothing stays the same, though, including holidays.  Some states, Colorado being primary, will be experiencing euphoria at the thought of relatives visiting. Imagine this conversation: “So, your mother is coming to spend Thanksgiving and stay through the New Year?  Hey.... that’s totally cool.  She can have our room. Cool! Love it.” My sister-in-law might invite me and all my family to spend the holidays with her and my brother. She’ll cook enough food for an army and after we’ve eaten the first morsels, we’ll all form a Love Commune and live together in peace and harmony forever more.
      It must be a Christmas Miracle!  Yep, it is.  Colorado legalized not only medicinal but recreational use of marijuana.  Blend it, pour it, shake and bake it, add it with granola to your cereal, include it as a spice in all your recipes.  “Let Peace Begin With Me” – the new State Motto of Colorado!   

The State of Gratitude

       Our land is arrayed in orange, red, brown, and yellow hues prompting jaw-dropping amazement as we gaze upon leafy decorations splashed against crisp, Fall blue skies.  Autumn colors have reached their peak here, just in time for Thanksgiving.  Too bad it seems that so few will acknowledge the call to thankfulness.
       Maybe it’s because holiday decorations include a Turkey, the fowl that lost the National Bird election to the regal Bald Eagle.  Perhaps some wish to skip Thanksgiving because their favorite football games and the coma-inducing plethora of pigskins have dulled their conscience.  I have been guilty, myself, of referring to the holiday as Turkey Day, a salute to my week in the kitchen and the recipes that focus on turkey, dressing and pumpkin pies.
       Recently, however, my senses were accosted as I shopped.  Television commercials have informed that the colors of the current season are Green and Black – Green for cash and Black for the bottom line that is not red, thus the decision to move Black Friday to Black Thursday or Black Thanksgiving, or Black November.
        Can we not take even a single moment to express our thanks not only for the food on our table daily, but for our families, our health, our very breath and say it directly to the author of all bounty, each goodness, God Almighty? 
        Commercialism is rampant.  We all understand why merchants wish to entice us to launch our Christmas preparations early.
We understand the state of the economy. 
We need to examine our state of gratitude.

"What's This Cute Little Room, Dear?"

       Statistics show that the Kitchen is the most deadly room in the house.  Not just for the turkey, but for humans who are either clumsy or prone to run-ins with butcher knives.  “Chicago” (Cellblock Musical) lyrics for “He Had It Coming” intone that “he ran into my knife--- 10 times!”
       Pesky utensils such as potato peelers, kitchen scissors, paring knives, or Pampered Chef Choppers should carry Warning Labels declaring the implement to be one of “mega-mass destruction” or certainly a boast a warning similar to that of the Surgeon General regarding hazards to the health.  Scalding water and flaming skillets…..the Smoke Alarm should not signal that dinner is ready!
       Another potential hazard I recently discovered: what about Aluminum Foil?  Aluminum Foil can deliver a wound that necessitates cleaning with water, cloth, perhaps a kiss, and definitely a Band-aid.  Blood appeared, Neosporin+PainRelief was applied, and the tender area was covered to speed healing. No sling was necessary, however. When using the premium quality Aluminum Foil, exercise caution around unmarked, sharp edges.  Not only is there no warning label forbidding Microwave use, but there are no arrows, no “do not touch” notations, nothing to clarify for the consumer: Beware of Aluminum Foil edges. They can cut, possibly disfigure or maim. Amateurs should avoid not only the foil itself, but the boxed razor-toothed edge, also.
        Cooking, in and of itself, brings opportunity for creativity, but does not come without hazard, without risk.  Does your family recognize the risk you take daily when you enter the kitchen to prepare a meal?  Hazard Pay should be negotiated!  Or, as those Germantown Housewives are prone to do – just “make reservations!”