Slowing Down to Enjoy the Changes

There have been some changes in my life in the past few months. I am not usually one who looks forward to big changes but I have to say I have enjoyed the ones occurring recently.

After working for the same company for 23 years, it has closed and my job ended in December 2015. I saw it coming and prepared myself - to the fact that I would not be working for a while and also prepared as best I could for it financially.

I wasn't sure what I would do with my free time but I was looking forward to trying it for a while. You see, I have worked two jobs for a big part of those 23 years. I ran my own company  at the same time I was working full-time for someone else. After 17 years of that, I closed my business and then took on a part-time job along with my full-time job. The part-time job was definitely much less work and hours than running my business and I still have that job today.

Since my job ended only a week before Christmas, that month was full of the normal holiday preparation stuff. Mix into that the fact that my brother died the same night that my job ended. We planned his funeral and got through that the week of Christmas.

It wasn't until about 3 weeks into January that I really felt like I was "semi-retired" you could say. I was still looking for work, yet enjoying having the time to do those little things I had put off so often. I got some cupboards, closets and drawers cleaned out.

I enjoy making dinner (not sure yet if Ken is enjoying that!) because I now have the time to start it early in the day and can make meals that take extra time (like homemade noodles for chicken noodle soup, wedding soup, etc.).




Yesterday, after going to a doctor visit with my daughter, I made an impromptu stop at a little consignment shop I had passed so many times, never having the time to stop. How enjoyable was that to spend a 1/2 hour just walking around enjoying the decorating ideas, seeing some antiques, some unique artwork, and then again, just some junk!

I have had time to write again without interruption. I have started another book and am determined to finish this one. I discussed the idea behind the story with Ken (which I seldom do with anyone regarding my writing) and he thinks the idea is a good one. So onward I plan to go to at least finish it. If it is good enough, I will have to do some research into how to get it published.

Now that we are nearing our retirement age, I may be writing more blogs about things that pertain to us "older folk" (though I don't consider myself old at all). I have said all along that I will never grow up, nor do I plan to grow old. Hmmmm...anyone know how to stop that one other than the alternative I am not willing to pursue?

I will be starting a new job next week, working 20 hours a week. I think that will be good for me - definitely financially but also the challenge of learning new things,  meeting new people, and staying active, yet not on a full-time basis. I will still have time to myself, for my interests and home and family, yet will still be contributing to our income and society.

For me, I am on a new journey in life. One where my world turns slower, my thoughts are lighter, and I feel I have time to plan my day.

The Sandbox

Spring is here, it is slowly warming up a bit. Our deck, which Ken has named “The Sandbox” awaits us.  It is the place where the neighborhood “kids” (mostly grownups) and our family hang out and enjoy some beverages, share food and stories and lots of laughter.

The Sandbox was an extravagance last year during the midst of Ken’s recovery. While he was off he coordinated getting estimates, making the plans for its size and location, and picking out the material to be used.

 

He chose durable composite for the flooring and vinyl railings. There is no maintenance to it other than cleaning.

We bought Amish made chairs which are constructed from recycled material, mostly milk jugs, again with no maintenance. After we are gone, our children will have to fight over who gets that furniture because it is so durable it will last for a very long time.

 

He chose a coordinating Sun Seeker awning to protect us from the sun when it is too hot.

 

We spent many hours enjoying The Sandbox last year and we can’t wait to get back out there. The sun has been deceiving lately, making us think it is warm when in reality the temperature is still too cold to endure much time outside. I know the time is drawing near when we will be able to enjoy the Sandbox because the birds are flocking back to our feeders, placed strategically for our viewing while on the deck. The songbirds are starting to get their color back and the seed is going down quickly. The suet has finally thawed enough that the birds are enjoying it again. We will be making several trips to Tractor Supply to keep those feeders stocked.

 

It is amazing how much we look forward to the relaxation and fellowship with others on our deck after a day’s work. Also, stunning is the sky which seems so close at night, the moon moving and maneuvering into place, and all the stars we can see. Amongst the stars we are amazed at how many planes are in our sky, right over our head. Inevitably, while sitting out there during the summer, it seems a small plane will zoom overhead. It has become a standing joke that he is watching us. Most likely he wants to join us in the Sandbox.

I do my best, with lots of coaxing from Ken, to keep the flowers alive and blooming. I didn’t do well with the plants I put in the natural pots. They turned brown easily and just didn’t produce. I moved them to the flower bed beside the house and they did somewhat better.

 

The potted plants also were not as stunning as I had hoped.

 

 

Someday, maybe, I will get that green thumb I always wish I had! Ken bought a hibiscus plant for the deck last year which thrived beautifully and bloomed all summer with deep rose colored flowers. It is now hibernating in our basement, the leaves dried up and falling off. I see new growth at its tips and hope it produces as beautiful once it is outside.

Now that Ken has his strength back, I am looking forward to the grill getting a good workout. He is a great grill master demanding only the best from himself. He will be out there tomorrow smoking stuffed peppers and making smoked mac and cheese. What a great meal to come home to after work!

Now I really can’t wait to get out there in the Sandbox! Let's kick up some sand!

Catching Up to Grandma

How can it be? It seems like only a short while ago that I held you on my lap, rocking you to sleep in my arms. You were a perfect structure of tiny body parts, miniature in every way, except those bulging cheeks, so familiar to preemies. I nicknamed you Mr. Magoo because that is what your cheeks brought to my mind. We have shortened it over time, dropping the “Mr.” and sometimes just referring to you as “Goo”. So appropriate was the name Magoo because it rhymes with Andrew, something I did not realize when I started calling you by this nickname.

We enjoyed you and your twin, Aaron, as “babies” longer than most grandparents because of your small size. We could carry you around without problem at older ages than most children because you didn’t weigh what you should.

Eating was a problem in your early life, one that you definitely have overcome. Sometimes it seems you will never get full! But that eating has caused growing. Your body has developed into a handsome, strong young man. And yes, I say the word “Man” when referring to you because you are not a little boy anymore.

At 13, you now stand as tall as me. The final measurement was last night at my house. Over the last couple of years you and I have compared how tall you were against my body. When you realized you were getting closer a couple of years ago, it became a familiar phrase from your lips: “Grandma, I am almost as tall as you!” You would stand your body close to mine, looking up to see where you still had to grow. “Yes, you are almost as tall as me, Andrew, but you are still not up to my shoulders!”

“Grandma, I am catching up to you,” you said as your hand over your head touched my shoulders. “Yes Goo, you are up to my shoulders now. It won’t be long.”

This past summer, you said, “Grandma, I am as tall as you!” with excitement in your voice. “Stand back to back and let’s see,” I told you. “You are close but there is still an inch or two before you are as tall as me.”

At Christmas, we tried again. The gap had gotten smaller. “It won’t be long now Magoo before you and I are the same height.”

A couple weeks ago, while I was making your favorite banana pancakes, we tried again. “Grandma, I am as tall as you now!” “Not quite, I said, but close.”

Last night, after eating dinner together, just before you left, you stood right in front of me, pushing close to my body. “Grandma, I am as tall as you now!”

We turned around, back to back, and I said with surprise, “Yes Andrew, you are as tall as me! How did that happen?”

You left with a smile of accomplishment. I stood there in awe of what a sweet, kind, handsome, and TALL young man you have become. I love you Mr. Magoo.

TGIF!!!!

Thank God it is Friday!

 

Sometimes life seems so hectic and we just want that down time. I am so looking forward to down time tonight and this weekend. As I walked into the office this morning and said, "Hello", the next sentence out of my mouth was, "It's Friday!"

A co-worker raised her hand and said, "Thank God!"

As I said hello to another co-worker and asked how he was, his comment was, "I am glad it is Friday!"

I am not alone here and I am sure I am not alone at a lot of workplaces. We are ready for the weekend!!

Sammy the Cat

 My pets become like family members. I talk to them, play with them, teach them and discipline, similar to a child.

I become emotionally attached to them and still grieve over some that have passed.

What is it about pets that make us never give up hope when they are lost?

There is a cat in our area who is somewhat famous or at least recognizable. No, he didn’t do anything heroic, nor does he perform fantastic tricks (that I am aware of anyway).

I see him on my way to work all the time. 

A family in our area has been looking for Sammy the Cat for quite some time. At first I just saw flyers on telephone poles asking for his return. Then I started spotting ads in the classified section of our newspaper including his picture.

Billboards have popped up all over our area with his picture and a reward being offered if he is found. It started out at $1000.00 and is now up to $3000.00. That’s a lot of money!! That is not to say that this is what his owners think is he is worth. Considering all the advertising they have done to find Sammy, it appears he is worth more than money to them.

There was a segment on our local news about Sammy, an article in our local newspaper, and even commercials asking us to find Sammy.
 

Where is Sammy? His website findsammy.com says he has been seen. How long ago? Are there still sightings of him?
 

Is he such a special cat that someone would keep him for such a long time from a family so obviously heartbroken over his loss?

Is Sammy in another world, possibly the victim of eating poison, meeting his Maker by the squeal of a tire, or did some other animal get him?

Or could Sammy still be out there, fending for himself all this time? 

Obviously, his owners still believe he is alive and nearby. I hope they find him soon.