JUNE 1 – 30
RETIREMENT!
My identity was never dependent on my “job”. I looked forward to being able to retire most of my working life! 😆 I was happiest when I could get a non-scheduled day off, like a snowstorm (my favorite), or I just decided I needed a day. I remember a few times I told my employer I was taking a wellness day. I had to tell him because I lived across the street and for sure would be observed.
Four years before I retired, I set two goals…I had never set a goal in my life. My goals were to buy a new car and have it paid off in four years; and pay my credit card down to zero. I achieved both goals! As for the credit card, it has been paid in full every month since then. I’ve had three cars since (none of them new) so I did have car payments for a short time.
After I retired, I don’t know how I ever had time to work. I did a lot of bike riding on trails a distance from home. I still had my part-time word processing business, Gemini Word Pro. Jon and I were still publishing The Door Opener Magazine. And I was taking care of my mother. We bought a house together in South Windsor so now there were meals to fix, a bigger house to clean, mom’s appointments to manage, and a lawn to mow. On top of all that, I started writing stories and poetry.
I have often said that I was born to be retired. I knew exactly how to use all that free time! Some things have changed! I stopped writing poetry after my mother passed, and gave up bike riding at age 85. However, I filled my time with volunteering with a historical society and doing historical research.
And so, it continues! I wish all of you a Happy Retirement!
LAUNDRY
*On the 3rd I was able to hang sheets on the line for the first time this year! I had to wait for the pollen season to end! Love air-dried sheets (minus the pollen!)
FLOWERS & FLOWERING BUSHES
*My flower garden right outside my sitting room is very pretty this year, and will be prettier: the cone flower, phlox, lobelia, ornamental pepper seedlings (these were just planted) and possibly one bee balm still need to bloom. In addition, I have a hanging geranium and a hanging fuchsia, several different color petunias, red and yellow lantana, and Gerbera Daisys. Out in the “dog’s yard”, there is the Japanese Quince and a fragrant Mock Orange. The Quince is in it’s second blooming, which it has not done before.
HEALTH
*I had a blood vessel burst in my right eye. I’ll be seeing my eye doctor for an evaluation…Kathy insisted I do that. 😆 Update: ocular conjunctival hemorrhage. It will slowly go away on its own.
FRIENDS
*There are lunches with friends and classmates. One of my classmates is here from Florida for the summer, so she will be an addition to our group.
*My dear friend, Elizabeth, has been in Florida all winter. She is currently back home in Windsor with her Florida family for the purpose of clearing out her house and getting it ready for sale. She doesn’t want to do this, but she’s at that age that dictates she not live alone. So far so good! However, she has since taken a bad fall that shattered her femur and landed her in the hospital. Rehab will be 3-6 weeks. Then she fell again and broke her arm in 2 places. I can’t imagine what her Florida family must be going through. I’ve been helping clean out some of her clothes and books. More on that next month.
HUMAN FAMILY
*Anne came up from Maryland on the 20th. She came on Saturday and was here until Tuesday. She got to go down to visit Jessica and the kids. The girls and I went shopping for new jeans for me. It wasn’t easy! I’m sure the girls didn’t expect me to be so specific about what I wanted/liked. We were successful! The new jeans fit perfectly.
FUR FAMILY
*On Wednesday Rigby and Martha went to the groomer and Rigby was a stressed-out nut case when they came back. Rigby finally calmed down. Kathy called the groomer to find out what happened, and the groomer said it was strange because all the dogs that afternoon were acting out. Unusual.
*Thirteen-year-old Mama Bear (the mother cat) went outside in the morning and was nowhere to be found by bedtime. Not like her. Kathy even checked the garage…no Mama. Next morning Kathy spotted Mama through the garage window! She let her out assuming she would come around the other side of the house to come in for food and water. No Mama. Called her all day. Then I spotted her nested down among the ferns. When approached, she ran away. Even shaking the container of cat treats (which she cannot resist…catnip) would not get her back. Now serious worry has set in. Has Mama decided that this is the end of her life span? Kathy and I went to bed frantic. At 4 :30 this morning, during a horrendous rainstorm, Kathy heard Mama crying. Make that screaming! Kathy brought her in and dried her off! When Mama meows, you can hardly hear her. She was not injured in any way. Just cold, very wet and hungry.
We are wondering if the planetary energies were affecting their behavior. There had just been three earthquakes…one in northern California and two in Venezuela.
THAT’S A WRAP
*And here we are at the end of another month. I hope you are well and are able to get through this heatwave as cool as a cucumber! 🥒
