R
Retire. The age you're supposed to be when you are stopping. Going. Leaving. Going to a better life after finishing the job. It wasn't supposed to be this way. I was sixty, not going, not leaving, still finishing the job, and loving the way it was supposed to be. But health got in the way. Now I have retired.
E
Entering a new life. Writing. Reading. Solving crossword puzzles. Walking. Cooking. Word With Friends. It's supposed to be this way. Writing a blog that I love and you will love or not love. Reading again and loving it after finishing the novel "For One More Day" in twenty-two days and finding a non-fiction book by the same author, Mitch Albom, and starting "Have a Little Faith." Solving crossword puzzles that are a little more complicated than the easy puzzles. Walking to the library, the post office, or just walking around the block. Cooking that will never match you know who's cooking but will improve. Words With Friends, that game that gets us to stay in touch, challenging us, and annoying us a little.
T
Take. Take it easy. Take care. Take a deep breath. Take charge. Take a little. Take a lot. I have been taught about taking. Now I have to give...Give back. Give because I am retired.
I
I. I am retired. I miss the kids in school. I miss my colleagues. I miss the rest. Retired means I can't be there anymore. The kids were what I was there for. The colleagues were my people, all of them, and I love all of them. I miss the rest: hellos to everyone in the hallway, helping whenever I could, learning whenever they taught. I am retired.
R
Rest, relax, recharge. Health got in the way. Rest because I need to. Relax because I want to. Recharge because I can rest and relax in time and start again with whatever I choose to do.
E
Eager. Eager for the future. Doing. Creating. Volunteering. Working. Playing. Yearning for the past. Eager for the memories. Beautiful memories. I am retired.
