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I'm 53 years old. I'm retired. I was a professional educator for 30 years. I have both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree. I'm smart...right? So why did it take spending a weekend with a five year old to learn that I don't have a clue?
Ron and I had the distinct honor, and yes, it truly was a honor, to have Trenton spend the weekend with us. During this weekend with "the boy" I learned sooo much. Maybe I already "kinda" knew some of this...but it was reinforced in a BIG way in just 48 hours.
Here are some of the things I learned:
1. Life is a gift. Rip into it with all the gusto of a child tearing into presents at Christmas. Stop what you're doing to sit in the floor and play bingo. Go outside and blow bubbles and then kung-foo kick them into oblivion. Color and then tell everyone how good a job you did. Tell them to post your artistic expression somewhere it can be seen by all. Read a book for fun. Swim till you're too tired to kick your feet any more. Watch cartoons with someone you love. Take time to play in the bathtub. Eat ice cream...with whipped cream...AND chocolate syrup! Look, there is always going to be laundry that needs to be done, floors that need to be vacuumed, dishes to load in the dishwasher. No little work fairies will break in and do it so, believe me, it will be waiting for you when there is nothing more important to do than play and spend time with the ones you love.
2. Live with confidence. It doesn't matter whether your confidence is false or real. What matters is that you have no self doubts. An example? "Remember when I was a little baby and Jovi fell in the pool and I swimmed out and saved her?" No, I don't remember that...but Trenton "remembers" it and is quite proud of himself for saving Jovi. This is not an endorsement of reckless living. If you want to have Popaw check it out first to make sure it is safe before you do something then that will be okay, too. Neither is it an endorsement for lying. It is an endorsement for believing in oneself.
3. Learn to fly. The picture should be self explanatory.
4. Share your wealth of knowledge with others. "Did you know that when you die you go be with God and you don't even want to be here?" Yes, I did know that and I am so proud that my grandson is getting spiritual instruction and demonstrating understanding of some basic spiritual matters.
5. Don't hesitate to tell someone you love them. There is NOTHING in this world more special to me than to hear that little voice spontaneously and unsolicited say, "I love you, Nana." Even when I've made him sad only moments before by saying "no" to something (okay, I admit that doesn't happen often) or failed to notice he was talking to me and he has to repeat himself. Trenton loves me unconditionally and there is no better way to be loved!
I learned so many things that there isn't time or room to post them here. Perhaps I'll continue this lesson in another message. In the meantime...don't hesitate to let people know how important they are to you and how much you love them. We are never promised the gift of tomorrow. But, we do have the gift of today. Live it for all that it's worth...without regrets.
What a delightful night July 4th turned out to be! The entire week had been busy with appointments and things to do and I was looking forward to a relaxing evening. The evening before my good friend Tammy had come over and attended the Petty Theft concert with us. We had such a good time catching up with each other, having a picnic dinner, and then relaxing to the sounds of a Tom Petty cover band. I, of course, took about 100 pictures of the band and sent them to the lead singer but that's a story I'll expand on at another time. Going home I put away the picnic supplies and went to bed knowing that I had no real chores that needed to be done the next day.
I knew from a conversation earlier in the week that Ryan and Richard would be coming out to our house to set off fireworks. I made a quick trip to the grocery store to get the supplies needed to grill hamburgers. Late in the afternoon Friday I got a call from Kristin saying that she, Trenton and Scott would be coming out to set off fireworks as well. Could it be??? Was I really going to get to enjoy my whole family together??
Sure enough, Friday evening came and Ryan and Richard were the first to arrive. Shortly after that Ron got home from work and the four of us set down to a game table to play Rummy. What fun!! Of course, Richard must have the luck of the Irish because he won....again. Soon Kristin and family arrived and thus began an evening of eating, playing board games, riding around on the tractor (Trenton and Popaw) and setting off fireworks....then inside for more board games! We played games until 1:00 a.m. and had the best time.
Trenton is old enough now to understand fireworks and it was delightful to see his little face light up with joy. Of course, the big kids enjoyed their fireworks, too. I was reminded of when my children were little and this same scene was played out each July 4th. Gave me a warm glow.
I'm reminded, too, that next year (for which we are already making plans) there will be another family member joining us for the fun and festivities. He was here this year, in utero, and I understand that he was none too happy about the pops and bangs that were taking place outside his little nest. It will be a different story next year, but I'm not too sure he'll be any more happy about it then...
All I can say about Friday evening is that it will stand out in my memory for a long time to come. It was such fun and was such a joy to just relax and play with my family.
Thank you, God, for family, friends and beautiful times with the people I love. I am blessed!
People keep asking me, "Are you enjoying your retirement?" Let me set the record straight...I'm not exactly sure what retirement IS or when it begins. As a professional educator for 30 years, I already had a few weeks "off" each summer. I often chose to work a bit during my time off...things like planning staff development activities, working on the staff handbook, etc. The operative word there is CHOSE. And I certainly didn't choose to do those things the first two or three weeks I had off. So....retirement for me thus far is exactly like summer vacation of years past. I suspect that in August when everyone else goes back to school I will feel the difference...and then I will understand and appreciate being retired.
Speaking of...what exactly do retired people do with their time? So far I have spent my time "off" mowing our three and a half acres, cleaning house, doing laundry, grocery shopping and, oh yes, working on the pool. Just for the record I have now spent another $325 and it is no better than last week...but that's another (very depressing ) story. (I think Jimmy Hoffa's body may be hiding in the depths of the deep end. If so, it's a great hiding place because we may never see the bottom of the deep end again!) My point being I am still just as busy as I was before and a lot more beat up (lost a fight with a hackberry tree and have the scars to prove it).
In my mind's eye I saw retirement a bit differently. I saw myself lounging around either my very clean house or out by my pristine pool and while lounging I was enjoying a good book and perhaps a cocktail or two. My mind's eye lied to me! It didn't tell me how that house got magically clean or how that pool suddenly became clean, clear and surrounded by perfectly landscaped terrain. It didn't tell me that to look decent in a swimsuit while lying around reading I was going to need a body transplant. Crap! I hate to be lied to even if I'm the one telling myself these lies! The reality of it all is....whether this is retirement or summer vacation....it's still a heck of a lot of work!
