I can’t believe it’s been more than 6 months since I retired. So many changes. So many adjustments, […]
We all have dishes that evoke strong memories of our childhood. For me, it’s the ubiquitous casserole that had its heyday in the 1960s. In a very Mad Men fashion, every mom had their signature dish, and would swap recipes whilst playing bridge, at a volunteer meeting, or waiting for baseball practice/dance lessons/piano lessons to end. There was one constant in all of those one-dish meals.
I had an unusual experience recently. I saw a picture of me – taken in the 19th century. It was very unsettling. It also started a new passion to explore in my retirement. No – the cover photo isn’t the one. You’ll have to read the story to see it.
Who is this person, after all?
That’s what I’ve been saying this past week, every time I see my reflection. For the first time in my life, I’ve consciously changed my hair color. Now, a stranger looks at me in all kinds of shiny surfaces. She has very pretty hair… whoever she is.
Looking for something easy and healthy to make for dinner tonight? This is my own recipe, and was developed from the fact I messed up and didn’t get the right ingredients for another recipe from the store. It was late, and I just needed to cobble together something from what I did have in the refrigerator. The result was absolutely delicious.
To forestall the inevitable trolling (and boy, have I experienced a lot of that!) I must state that I unequivocally refuse to exploit my cat. Yes, I did turn down two offers for Spock to endorse cat products, and no, I am not crazy. I have always considered people who would exploit their kids or their pets for personal monetary gain to be several shades of despicable. That said, now the furor has died down, I now have a community of about 7700 followers who are very interested in the pictures I post, and the messages I’m giving. I have to do something with this.
Ever wonder what it’s like for those involved when you see something Trending and Viral? Last week, I was a happy retired lady, lunching with friends, painting for fun, and my biggest worry was the declining health of my mother in law. Then the article in our local weekly newspaper ran. My life changed instantly. And not for the better.
Cue the scream.
It all started out as a bit of a lark. Sure – run a fun fluff piece in the weekly newspaper. Agree to a local late night news story as a favor for a friend?
First, you start off with a very smart cat. Then you put him in front of a camera, with a nice cameraman who doesn’t mind having his tripod, bag and camera thoroughly sniffed, and a reporter who thinks he’s the cutest thing she’s seen in years Then you let him do his thing. How do I know? I just did it. With my own cat.
I’ve always viewed my life as a book – when one chapter finishes, the page turns, and a new one starts. This time last year, I was desperately trying to get on my boss’s calendar so I could let him know I was resigning. It would take me 3 weeks to pin him down, a fact that still gives me a chuckle. Fast forward one year, and I’m happily working on what is now my next career.
It’s been a challenging year. I’ve been visible. Then I wasn’t. Then I was again. I felt like the Cheshire Cat at times.
It was a year of Firsts, Lasts, and Never Agains. Lots of stuff has happened, and I’m still trying to process it all. Other than the year our son was born, I can’t remember any time that had this kind of upheaval. I hope it’s an anomaly, and not a new normal.
The User's Guide to Retirement 