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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Blue Monday?
January can be an exciting month because it implies freshness, new beginnings, and a chance to start over. But January is a depressing time for many. There are fewer hours of sunlight and even those hours are usually gray and dreary. The Christmas bills are beginning to arrive. The W2 showing just how little you earned last year has arrived. Plus you've made all those wonderful resolutions to lose weight so you can't even turn to the chocolate box to lift your spirits.With the shortened days and the self-inflicted chocolate withdrawal symptoms, January seems like one giant Christmas hangover.
Much of the media have declared today - the third Monday in January - as the most depressing day of the year. The media has tagged today as Blue Monday. Now I can't say if the majority of Americans suffer a day of depression on Blue Monday, but I can say that this particular Blue Monday is a good one for me.
Sadly, this is the last Monday I will be talking to my south-Georgia sister for one hour each weekday. When I first moved to Powder Springs, I was complaining about my commute simply because I like leaving before the roads get crowded - which meant leaving around 6:00 a.m. It was hard for me to not nod off from road hypnosis once I got on I-20 and started that long drive in the dark. Sister #2 said that she is always up that early and that if I would call her she would be glad to talk me through. She has been true to her word. Almost every weekday morning for the last six years, I have dialed her number and she has cheerily answered the phone and listened patiently as I chatted my way from Powder Springs to Conyers. We have covered every topic from religion and spirituality to decorating to health issues to children to politics to investing and back again to decorating and children. She has been my soul spirit as well as my friend. She has given me love and laughter, support and encouragement, rejoicing in my good times, a shoulder to cry on in my hard times, and a kick in the butt when I needed it.
This road I have been walking for so many years is now coming to an end. But Blue Monday? Not in my heart at all this year. This year it's a New Monday.
Much of the media have declared today - the third Monday in January - as the most depressing day of the year. The media has tagged today as Blue Monday. Now I can't say if the majority of Americans suffer a day of depression on Blue Monday, but I can say that this particular Blue Monday is a good one for me.
This is the last Monday that I will be making a 45-mile commute to my current job. Retirement Monday mornings begin next week.This Monday is almost the last day that I will awakening in my current nest. Two weeks from today I will awaken in my new nest in North Carolina and begin unpacking moving boxes. This Monday is the last time I will have to complain about going out to spend money on fast food for lunch because I was too lazy to prepare my lunch at home - next Monday I will be at home at lunch time!
This is the last Monday that I will be pulling away from my office in my little red truck that our custodian loaded down with moving boxes.
Sadly, this is the last Monday I will be talking to my south-Georgia sister for one hour each weekday. When I first moved to Powder Springs, I was complaining about my commute simply because I like leaving before the roads get crowded - which meant leaving around 6:00 a.m. It was hard for me to not nod off from road hypnosis once I got on I-20 and started that long drive in the dark. Sister #2 said that she is always up that early and that if I would call her she would be glad to talk me through. She has been true to her word. Almost every weekday morning for the last six years, I have dialed her number and she has cheerily answered the phone and listened patiently as I chatted my way from Powder Springs to Conyers. We have covered every topic from religion and spirituality to decorating to health issues to children to politics to investing and back again to decorating and children. She has been my soul spirit as well as my friend. She has given me love and laughter, support and encouragement, rejoicing in my good times, a shoulder to cry on in my hard times, and a kick in the butt when I needed it.
This road I have been walking for so many years is now coming to an end. But Blue Monday? Not in my heart at all this year. This year it's a New Monday.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye?
Remember the song by Patty Loveless - "How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye"? There is one refrain from the song that plays through my hand at different times in my life:
And the refrain is running through my head many days right now as I face a lot of changes in the near future. All of us just collectively made the change into 2012. A new year always feels exciting; a new start. We may look back nostagically at the year as it passes, but we always happily anticipate a fresh start of a new year and we make all those resolutions that are going to make this new year better - eat less, exercise more / spend less - save more / work less - play more. We always think in terms of more good things.
Along with welcoming in 2012, I am facing some other changes that are a mixed bag of anticipation and anxiety. First, I am ending my career at Rockdale County Public Schools and leaving behind the position I have held for 22 years. As the keeper of official records of the Board of Education, I have been sole creator and curator of their documents as well as their scheduled activities. As I have been the designer of the procedures, these tasks have become so ingrained in me that I could probably literally "conduct them in my sleep". It is a wee bit difficult for me to pass these duties on to other hands, yet Life's About Changing.
Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same.
And it is about to change drastically for us. We are saying goodbye to so many things in our life that have defined us for a long time. But we are walking into new challenges, new cultures, and new opportunities. New free hours (due to retirement), a new city and state, a new abode, and a new beginning. Life's about to change. More good things are on the way.
Mama whispered softly, Time will ease your pain
Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same.
And the refrain is running through my head many days right now as I face a lot of changes in the near future. All of us just collectively made the change into 2012. A new year always feels exciting; a new start. We may look back nostagically at the year as it passes, but we always happily anticipate a fresh start of a new year and we make all those resolutions that are going to make this new year better - eat less, exercise more / spend less - save more / work less - play more. We always think in terms of more good things.
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| In my home away from home |
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| Ron on the porch of my sister's house on Frank Aiken Road |
After walking through these office doors for the last time, I will have about a week in my existing home to finalize the packing. For the past few years, Ron and I have been in a rental home that belongs to my sister. Built in the 60s, the house is a typical tract home with 3 bedrooms and 1 bath. Moving there from a 3,000 square foot house has helped ease me into the "downsizing" mode of thinking. Much of our furniture and other paraphenalia necessary for living has been stored away in a storage unit for the past few years, and I have learned that I have managed just fine without all the stuff. In fact, I do not even remember exactly what is packed in all the boxes so securely stored. I do know that I look forward to unpacking my books, scrapbooks, and photographs. It has been fun to decorate this little house and live with its coziness, but on February 4, I will walk out those doors for the last time (perhaps). Nothing ever stays the same.
Then Ron and I will be walking into the doors of our next home. We think of this as our retirement home. The last resting place on this earth. But we thought the Conyers house was the retirement home. So we'll see what God has planned for the future.
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| North Carolina Home |
And it is about to change drastically for us. We are saying goodbye to so many things in our life that have defined us for a long time. But we are walking into new challenges, new cultures, and new opportunities. New free hours (due to retirement), a new city and state, a new abode, and a new beginning. Life's about to change. More good things are on the way.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Trimming Down
I cleaned out my clothes closet this weekend. Five years ago, I lived in a home with a closet so large that it had electrical outlets and a heat vent because it was large enough to be considered a room by home inspectors. Then Ron and I moved into a rental home that was built in the 60s. So a large part of my clothing dilemma is that my closet is only 3-1/2 feet wide. Another part of my dilemma is that I have collected a hodge-podge of clothes over the years. As all of you have done at one time or another, I frequently stood in front of that jam-packed closet and flipped through every hanger from left to right and still could not pull together a decent outfit. A closet full of clothes and not a thing to wear! So my time to take this bull by the horns had finally come.
Six months ago, I read an idea on another blog. It said to start at one end of your closet and turn every single hanger backwards on the rod. When you took a piece of clothing out to wear it, then when you re-hang it you turn that hanger in the proper direction.Six months later, you start removing all the hangers that are still turned in the wrong direction. If you have not worn an item in 6 months, then it is unlikely that you will ever wear it again. On May 7, all my hangers got turned backwards. On November 5, Turn-Around Day had arrived.
Here is my closet before I got started last Saturday. The clothes are packed tight. The hangers actually overlap each other.
The key to this exercise is to begin at one side and remove each backwards hanging hanger individually. Look at the item and determine if it can go into the Goodwill box or needs to go into the trash. Those are you only two choices. "I might lose enough weight to wear it again some day" is not an option. Let's face it, girls...if you do lose that much weight, you are probably going to be out shopping for new things anyway. If you have not worn an item in six months it's probably because you didn't really like the item in the first place, you don't really enjoy the color or you would wear it more often, it never matched any other item in your closet, or it does not fit properly so it is not comfortable to wear. You must be relentless as you move through this exercise - donate or toss - that is the only question.
The first few items were hard for me to put on the give-away pile. My first pieces were several pairs of dress slacks. Most had been worn only a few times and still looked brand new. Three pair still had the price tags on them!!! Those three pair are the ones that were a size smaller than I am now. I have no idea how long I have been holding on to them thinking I "might be able to wear them some day." I'm very glad these particular items were among my first decisions. I so wanted to put those three slacks back in the closet, because, after all, I'm on a new diet now and 'I just might be able to wear them soon'. But then I reminded myself that was not one of my options - donate or toss -- the only question. It was difficult laying these slacks on the give away pile. I laid them aside one at a time with very wistful glances, but I did it.
Here is my closet before I got started last Saturday. The clothes are packed tight. The hangers actually overlap each other.
The key to this exercise is to begin at one side and remove each backwards hanging hanger individually. Look at the item and determine if it can go into the Goodwill box or needs to go into the trash. Those are you only two choices. "I might lose enough weight to wear it again some day" is not an option. Let's face it, girls...if you do lose that much weight, you are probably going to be out shopping for new things anyway. If you have not worn an item in six months it's probably because you didn't really like the item in the first place, you don't really enjoy the color or you would wear it more often, it never matched any other item in your closet, or it does not fit properly so it is not comfortable to wear. You must be relentless as you move through this exercise - donate or toss - that is the only question.
The first few items were hard for me to put on the give-away pile. My first pieces were several pairs of dress slacks. Most had been worn only a few times and still looked brand new. Three pair still had the price tags on them!!! Those three pair are the ones that were a size smaller than I am now. I have no idea how long I have been holding on to them thinking I "might be able to wear them some day." I'm very glad these particular items were among my first decisions. I so wanted to put those three slacks back in the closet, because, after all, I'm on a new diet now and 'I just might be able to wear them soon'. But then I reminded myself that was not one of my options - donate or toss -- the only question. It was difficult laying these slacks on the give away pile. I laid them aside one at a time with very wistful glances, but I did it.
After that major moment, the rest was easy. I ended up with three stacks to donate and tossed only three items. This is my bed after emptying the closet - there are two stacks up near the pillows and another stack (of nothing of slacks!) at the foot beside the pile of hangers. Just look at all those "free" hangers I now have.
After removing the clothes that were controlling my closet, I re-ordered what was left placing types of clothes and then colors together. This is what I ended up with. I just stood back and admired how beautiful it looks. It was very satisfying to see organization rather than chaos. And every morning this week, I have quickly and easily chosen outfits for work. My husband commented that I didn't have much left to choose from, that I would be wearing the same clothes to work over and over again. And that was an aha moment...that's what I was doing anyway, even when I had a closet full of clothes. I had always been going back to good old stand-bys day after day. Only now, it was much easier to find those stand-bys with all the clutter out of the way.
Now I know that I will still be out there at Belk and Macy's buying new clothese very soon. Thus, the rod will begin to sag and groan again. So guess what I will be doing next Saturday. You got it, every hanger gets turned around backwards on November 12, 2011; and May 12, 2012, I get to do it all again.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Fourth Quarter
Almost there. October is half over and then there will be three.
As I begin to approach and prepare for this new beginning, I have been watching friends and co-workers who have retired before me. Admittedly, some have become old crones and curmudgeons overnight, while others have welcomed these years with open arms. Not wanting to be one of the crones nor be married to a curmudgeon, I began to research the pitfalls you may find in retirement. I found an article that detailed the Four Major Fears of Retirement.
Of course, there is a reason that finances are at the top of the worry list. It doesn't matter how much you have saved or prepared, it's knowing that you can't predict what tomorrow holds that makes you worry that you may not have saved enough to get you to the end of the road. On the other side of that fear, I think about the recent death of Steve Jobs. One of the richest men in the world. He worked until the end. But even had he retired, financial ruin would have been at the bottom of his Fear List; because even with all his money and assets, none of it could give him the one thing he needed. We all walk that path eventually and it matters not how much or how little you have in the bank or investments.
There are no predictable effects on physical health, mental health, financial health, or self-esteem. Retirement is one of life's many milestones. But ponder about the many transitions you have already navigated in your life: teen years, college life, launching a career or business, marriage, having babies, raising your children, facing the empty nest, now paying for someone else's college life, assisting ailing parents (perhaps financially as well as physically), discovering the joys of being a grandparent. Now recall the fears and anxities and came along as those milestones approached - yet you managed each one and each one brought joys along the way.
For me, that last time I walk into the office for another 8-hour stint will be a Day of Delight. But the best part of that day will be when I walk in the door and call out, "Honey, I'm home!".
As I begin to approach and prepare for this new beginning, I have been watching friends and co-workers who have retired before me. Admittedly, some have become old crones and curmudgeons overnight, while others have welcomed these years with open arms. Not wanting to be one of the crones nor be married to a curmudgeon, I began to research the pitfalls you may find in retirement. I found an article that detailed the Four Major Fears of Retirement.
- Financial Ruin
- Filling the Days
- Faultering Physical Capabilities
- Failing Mental Capabilities.
Of course, there is a reason that finances are at the top of the worry list. It doesn't matter how much you have saved or prepared, it's knowing that you can't predict what tomorrow holds that makes you worry that you may not have saved enough to get you to the end of the road. On the other side of that fear, I think about the recent death of Steve Jobs. One of the richest men in the world. He worked until the end. But even had he retired, financial ruin would have been at the bottom of his Fear List; because even with all his money and assets, none of it could give him the one thing he needed. We all walk that path eventually and it matters not how much or how little you have in the bank or investments.
There are no predictable effects on physical health, mental health, financial health, or self-esteem. Retirement is one of life's many milestones. But ponder about the many transitions you have already navigated in your life: teen years, college life, launching a career or business, marriage, having babies, raising your children, facing the empty nest, now paying for someone else's college life, assisting ailing parents (perhaps financially as well as physically), discovering the joys of being a grandparent. Now recall the fears and anxities and came along as those milestones approached - yet you managed each one and each one brought joys along the way.
For me, that last time I walk into the office for another 8-hour stint will be a Day of Delight. But the best part of that day will be when I walk in the door and call out, "Honey, I'm home!".
Monday, August 1, 2011
Five More to Go
What can I say? I'm a serious procrastinator when it comes to writing on my blog. But today could not be ignored as I pulled down and trashed another calendar page. Five more months to R-Day. But now I'm getting nervous. No house built or purchased yet. No options in sight. If God doesn't turn up that perfect dwelling soon, R-Day may end up being postponed. I welcome any and all prayer support on our behalf that He will soon reveal our new home.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Ocean Breezes
Ron and I are on a long weekend with our son and DIL. This is one last trip with them before Baby G arrives in October. We drove through heavy rains on the way down. Yesterday was a bit overcast but nicely cool by the water. A typical Florida vacation, we soaked up the rays most of the day, went to Pompano Joe's for seafood, came back to the balcony to enjoy dessert while listening to the surf.
Here we are on day 2. Ron and I were up early walking the shoreline and watching the sunrise while the other two slept in. Right this minute, I can't imagine too many better place to be than on the balcony with our coffee cups watching the sun makes it's full appearance over the horizon. Life is good. (sorry - couldn't get my photo to upload with this iPad)
Here we are on day 2. Ron and I were up early walking the shoreline and watching the sunrise while the other two slept in. Right this minute, I can't imagine too many better place to be than on the balcony with our coffee cups watching the sun makes it's full appearance over the horizon. Life is good. (sorry - couldn't get my photo to upload with this iPad)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Is Anybody Out There?
OK. I know people are reading my blog. For some reason, only four lovely people have signed up to be "followers" of my blog. However, since yesterday at this time, there are have been 14 visitors to my site. So I guess there are people out there who are finding something of interest in my musings. They just prefer to be blog stalkers rather than blog followers.
So for those of you who are reading anonymously...thank you. Even if I never know who you are, when I see my reader count go up, it is as satisfying as a cool summer breeze.
"There are peole who come into our lives as welcome as a cool breeze in summer--and last about as long." Alan Christoffersen
So for those of you who are reading anonymously...thank you. Even if I never know who you are, when I see my reader count go up, it is as satisfying as a cool summer breeze.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Needs vs. Wants
As I approach my next Life Passage and have those financial worries coursing through my veins, I am constantly checking my spreadsheets to visually remind myself that our retirement incomes will be able to meet our needs. However, like most Americans, my wants far exceed my needs. Yet many of the things we continually want may give temporary pleasure, but they do not necessarily contribute to our happiness. When I stop to realize that I will be able to meet my basic needs and even be able to gather in many of the wants, I realize that in giving up some of the wants (which cause me to have to continue to work 8 hours a day), then what I will gain in return is more time and energy for those things I know will contribute to my happiness. Time for helping family, time for socializing, time for my various interests, and especially time for snuggling and playing with three special boys and the little girl soon to join us.
More times for precious moments like these - when you turn around to find a little one has grabbed your granny glasses.
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| Time with these three and the one on the way. |
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| Mark always like my rhinestone-studded glasses best. |
From Peter Walsh: “In life, there are limits. We can’t all climb Mt. Everest. We can’t all live in mansions with butlers and drive Rolls-Royces. We can’t all have an unlimited source of funds just as we can’t have unlimited natural resources. On planet Earth there are limitations to be had despite desires, wants, entitlements, and wishes. And despite your best efforts, limits are all around us. Some of our limits are flexible – some are absolute limits beyond which we cannot go. Pretending limits do not exist can be a serious mistake."
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Shorter and Shorter
Look at this calendar! Here I am at June 1. Seven more months to go. After just 30 days, I will be down to two rows of calendars. If you see a spot of color near the top left, that is a little graphic I have added - it's a woman daydreaming about sun and sand, chaise lounges, and cold beverages. I just need to add three little boys and one little girl to the picture.
I am now on the countdown of the last time I'll do this. I just returned to the office after attending my last "end of year" cookout with RCPS. And I made my appointment with the Teacher Retirement counselor just now. Now that makes it real!
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