Bittersweet

This past Sunday we had company. The kids assembled at our house to see an old neighbor and good friend visiting from California. Jackie had a volunteer duty and would be joining us for dinner. We showed our friend the changed neighborhood with the tall trees and the new homes and the changed homes. We went to Wolf's Hollows County Park and they all went walking on the trails and I started reading. I was sitting on a picnic table bench. The next thing I can remember is my kids screaming my name and hurrying to get to me. My head was resting on the table. Dad!' 'Dad!' 'Are you all right?' At first I was in a stupor. It was a wonderful nap! After a few minutes, I felt invigorated. The kids got over it and I was fine!

Sandwiched in between Minch and Wolf's Hollow Parks was a visit to the schools. Our friend had not seen the newer buildings - has it been that long? We visited the older buildings, and my daughter snapped this picture of me in front of the Elementary School. We said that we have graduated, even retired me! The next day, I received a prerecorded phone call from the Superintendent of the District. It said that I would receive an email about the staff events and the beginning of the school year.

Bittersweet...

Retire

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.

A Slow Read

I've been feeling much better these days. My walking has improved as the hesitation in my right leg is almost negligible I walk. This is thanks to physical therapy which ended at the end of December. My right hand grips much better as I work around. This is thanks to Occupational therapy which ended at the end of January. There are hardly any signs of paralysis expect for my handwriting, which has shrunk. At the end of March I got certified to drive again. I have finished Speech therapy as of the end of April. I can form words well, but the words don't like me. The noise processor does not work well, and in crowds or small groups, I can't function. If it is quiet, I can read. I can read the headlines of an article, and if it amuses me, I can slowly read it. People say that I look good. That's is a miracle. If I talk with an individual I can talk well, but noise and talk are the enemy. All in all, things are getting better.

So now I've begun reading books. I started with a book I received for my birthday called "The 10 Essential Hugs Of Life". I was a slow read but I made it through it. Large print, short chapters, and just reading. Four weeks later - done! I really thought that it was about different hugs you share, but it examines hugging your parents, your family, your job, your past, your future, and especially your self metaphorically-150 pages of easy practicing. Still slow, I liked reading!

Now it was time for a novel. In the recent years, I've been attracted to heartwarming tales that tell a good story with a complicated man as the focus. Problems, a past, a stubborn streak, and a little curmudgeon thrown in. "A Christmas Carol", "Calico Joe", "A Redbird Christmas: A Novel", and "Tuesdays With Morrie". I wanted to read a book like the others. So I went to the library - first time since 2014, before the strokes. I was overwhelmed. The aisles were so small. There was talking. So many titles. I wanted to leave. On my way out, I stumbled upon a section where "Tuesdays With Morrie" was featured...and I found the author, Mitch Albom. Eureka, I have a book - "For One More Day"!

Eight days of this book and I can slowly read. Eight days of reading about this complicated soul, with problems, a past, a stubborn streak, and a little curmudgeon thrown in - 47 pages in - and I have to read every day...and I want to!