My Retirement Journey

When Riley graduated in June 2021, Green River College was still closed.  We were still dealing with Covid.  Our friendly photographer took picture of Riley at Auburn Mountainview High School.  Two years later, Brady had more experience as a high school student at Green River College than at the high school... although he's graduating from both this year.  He was  freshman one semester before Covid hit.  It seemed best to take his photos at GRC.  These are photos Kari took while the photographer was setting up.  We lucked out having a really nice sunny day.  When we get them, I will share.   It's getting closer...

Today I hit my 3 month anniversary from retiring. It's time to access a bit again..  My self improvement goals are moving along.   *  Lost 10 lbs.   *  Make up and hair color has been improved.   *  Finances are just level... I could change my Amazon habit.   *  I have met a few of ladies, and I went back to GRC to say hi to my friends there.   *  I am starting to work on the house for Spring cleaning, and gardening.  I've taken many things to the thift store.    *  I try to get out of the house to check on old places I went before the pandemic.   *  I've gone to the dentist and the doctor to maintain health.   *  I want to get back into reading and doing more crafts.   All in all, I am getting use to retirement.  I am looking forward to May - October.  The weather allows more opportunities. 

Here's Kari!  Kari is my 42 yr old daughter, and fab mom to my two grandsons.  Life in her twenties was very challenging, but she chose recovery and overcame many demons.  She's the strongest person I know.  This year it will be 13 yrs she made that choice.  I am so very proud of her.   Today she is a very hard worker and loves her family more than anyone or thing else.  She has a bunch of friends that she makes sure she stays in touch with on whatever level she can.  Right now we're planning Brady's graduation in June.  We have family coming from CA which was a secret... but Kari accidently said something last weekend.  We knew one of us would, and Riley and I we're so glad it wasn't us.  She's got his grad growns hanging in her room, which brings tears to her eyes from time to time because Brady is her baby.   I learn a lot from Kari.  She's very supportive, and very funny.  She could be a stand up comedian.   My retirement involves Kari an

You may be wondering what this is.  Its not too exciting unless you're like me.  Well, in my journey for health and self improvement, this is one new make up item that I found watching YouTube.  From my dad's side of the family, I inherited dark circles.  He had them, and his mom had them... and I have them.  This concealer really helps me conceal those dark circles.  It's green, but once smoothed in, it really helps.  There is also a 2 in 1 concealer in a foundation with Milania.  It looks like it would be helpful too.  I saw it on a YouTube channel rxstrmama.  I've gotten good at using YouTube over the pass few months. Today I had a doctor's appt.  Another improvement choice, to get caught up with med checks.  They were thrilled with my 10 lbs weight loss.  

It's been 3 plus years since I've been at the "Supermall". February 2020 when Covid was starting to imerge.  Since then I've bought online.  But there is one thing I can't seem to buy well online, and that's shoes.  I have returned 3 pairs of shoes in the past month because each time I thought I had the answer.  It's frustrating.  So, I decided it was time to go shopping in a store for some sandals for summer.  It gives me more time before needing enclosed shoes for Fall.  At least, I feel ok for now.  I am not a person with a lot of shoes like other ladies.  It's just not my thing.  I love comfort more than anything.  Now as I get older, it must be a substantial pair to not trip and fall etc. 

Since the beginning of April. I have been on a health program to lose weight.  I weigh in on Mondays and as of yesterday, I have lost 10 lbs.  Do I want a burrito? Yes!  Starbuck? Yes!  Am I going to give in? Nope.  I have been discovering things on my journey.  One is Laughing Cow pieces.  Another is Broccoli Shaw.  Try to drink more water.  Yuck.  I use Crystal Light to get it into me.  So, I may be 25 lbs down by the time Brady graduates. And 40 to 50 lbs down by my birthday at the end of August.  We will see.  I will keep you informed about it as I go.  I gotta learn to drink the water though.  

The boys  got their haircuts Friday for Brady's graduation photos being taken next Thursday.  Kari wanted it to be professionally done (she has been cutting their hair through the pandemic until now).  This place in Kent is where they always had their haircuts since they were little.  They were so little that they had to climb up into a booster chair.  And here they are after 3 years, giving a hug to one of their hairdressers.  They have grown. 

The Pacific Northwest Teen Square Dance Festival 2023 is coming.  Covid canceled 2020, 2021, and 2022.  It's been 4 years since there was a competition.  It's going to be at the boy's high school, Auburn Mountainview.  Of course, the boy's haven't been dancing, so they won't be competing.  Besides, things have changed for them.  Brady joined the Robotics club at school and went to college through Running Start.  Riley works part-time as a Math tutor and is a full time Central Washington University student, which takes up his time.  They told me they would attend a dance with me when I finally return to dancing.  They also told me on May 5 and 6 we could drop into the Festival to say hello to all our friends.  So at this point, I don't know when I will feel a "green light" to go back, but I know it's there.   If you're interested, there are Jack and Jill videos on YouTube.  At competitions, there are levels of square dancing, lev

I asked Riley if he'd like to learn to square dance and be my partner? He was 10 or 11 at the time and he joined the Jack and Jill's Teen club in Kent.  He was one of the youngest at the time.  I thought it would be good also for the fact he has ADHD.  It would help him focus and remember the calls to perform them.  Brady joined later as well.  We performed at festivals such as Kent Cornucopia etc.  But the boys also competed each year with teen clubs from WA, OR, and Canada. They would bring home trophies.   Then in 2020, Covid happened.

Here I am as a student square dancer with some of the club members in California.  How did I get involved?  Well, it started when my grandfather Ernie and his wife passed away and their house went into probation.  They lived in Upland CA, and my husband's job wasn't far from there, so we lived in their house for 3 years during that time.  I helped my mom by living there.  It was over 100 years old so it was interesting.  Outlets in the light fixtures or floors etc.  Many of my friends would ask if it was haunted.  The strange thing was I could hear whispering and footsteps upstairs when I was home alone.  I never was scared by that kind of thing.  I know that's weird, but it's true.  So it wasn't my imagination and i would try to check to find out where it was coming from logically.  I found it more interesting than anything.  Anyway, I discovered my grandfather was a square dancer from his many shirts and badges.  So I looked the club up and

The boys and I are square dancers.  The photos were taken in May 2019 at their last competition before Covid.  Every year at this time, we would be busy practicing and getting outfits ready.  They were a member of the Jack and Jill's Teen Square Dance Club.  We went to Canada 4 times to compete and to Oregon twice.   These teen clubs from Washington, Oregon, and Canada would compete with each other and would take turns hosting the competition.  The one that was going to be in 2020 was going to be a the boys high school.  They were so excited until Covid hit and everything closed down.  It has been 3 years since we danced.  I dont see the boys returning to dancing unless they go with me to dance that the clubs have monthly.  The next few days I am going to share how I started square dancing, how the boys started, and about the present.  It could be a part of my retirement.  I always planned it would be but not quite yet.  So stay tuned.

I earned an English Literature BA degree in 1992.  My plan was to teach high school English.  So literature is very important to me and I know how close it is to history.  Even though Uncle Tom's Cabin was fiction, Harriet Beecher Stowe was able to show though the written word what a slave experienced and felt.  She opens the book with a run away slave trying to run to freedom but behind the desperate slave, dogs are barking and evil men on horses are closing in on the slave.  The idea of what slavery was came to life and it moved the heart of the nation.  Abraham Lincoln when meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe said to her "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war."  In high school we read Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451 was about a future time when books were banned.  People preserved books by memorizing them.  Strange thing... this book is on the book ban list, as well as Uncle Tom's Cabin.  History is how we can lear

Last month I started having pain in my right shoulder.  It is mostly in the orange area.  Funny thing is, it comes and goes.  If I move a certain way, there it is.  Otherwise, it's not a problem.  I have a hard time reaching high over my head.  I have put cream on it, patches, massaged it, got a heater for the shoulder, iced it, not used it, exercised it, and taken pain reliever testing what works best.  I have checked to see if overuse of my phone could cause a pinched nerve.  I think it's slow getting better.  Then I will sleep on it, and the pain is back.  Grrrrr I've inflamed something.  Well, I will let you know what happens.

One of the hardest things I have dealt with is leaving my friendships I had at work.  Yes, I know they are still my friends but it's different.  For me, everything's different.  I thought I had misplaced everyone's information, but I hadn't.  I believe in making things happen.  Not just waiting to see if it will happen.  Sometimes there's issues like timing and what's happening in people's lives which I am respectful of.  Today I went over to the college to a farewell potluck for Teresa.  GRC is going to miss her but I wish her all the best.  I was able to spend time with some of my favorite people and connect.  When I walked out to the car, I felt the happiness I had seeing them but also the void.  I realized again for the millionth time how much of a "people" person I am.  I felt energized.  In the past two months since I was gone, I haven't had as much interaction, although I've attended Roar and Young at Heart.  It sure pres

It seems any more that something news breaking happens almost every day.  The shootings in Louisville and Nashville are heartbreaking.  I am one of many Americans that believe some other regulations need to be put in place.  THEN two representatives are expelled from their office in Tennessee.  I am glad they are reinstated.  Last week, the former president was arrested.  I can't keep up.  I think I am like Alice in Wonderland where everything is upside-down.  Washington just passed some gun control laws this week... Thank goodness.  I looked to see if our representative for Auburn voted yes or no.  He voted no as did all the Republicans.  You can bet I'll be paying attention better.  I believe in miracles,  but I also believe in taking action to make room for miracles.  

OK, I am totally ready for warmer weather now.  Since last month I've envisioned being outside more.  Gardening... sitting in the patio or the front porch.  But instead I happen to not be feeling too good.  Kari's home with a cold.  Boo

We have two kitties.  You've met Toby.  This is Leon.  We rescued him in 2011.  He'll be 12 years old.  He's has been nervous and scared all his life.  We actually found him hiding under his little box in his cage.  It took him years to be truly loving towards us.  He acts like a big brother to Toby.  You can find them playing at 5 am, or Leon licking Toby's face, or Leon backing off his food so Toby can have some.  He loves to go to curl up with Kari or lay at the foot (on top) of my bed.  He's our senior cat.  We love him ❤️ 

Last Monday I began a health program to lose weight.  It's not easy to put aside all the foods you love.  But, for me it's necessary to become healthy and have a better future.  I have the time and so I am working on it.  This health program is helpful and I have a coach.  This week I lost 5.8 pounds.   I was surprised cause I haven't seen the scales move the right way in years.  My hardest challenge is drinking water.  I am doing better though.  Another challenge this week were two pot lucks at church, that I didn't attend, Easter which my family helped with by cooking salmon, and lunch out on Monday with the girls.  Kari chose Poke to eat at for the salad, veggies, and seafood... I had shrimp.   I've been trying to self improve.  I started with my hair and low lights.  I've been doing skin care and have been learning again how best to put on my make up now that I am more mature.   My self care and improvements are taking me a while.  The domino eff

My cousin Margie sent me today a retirement gift and card.  It had a cute garland of flamingos and a Joanne's gift card.  I have been really blessed by the things said to me, done for me, and given me for retirement.  Flamingos are my symbol for balance.  Making sure that we do what we need to but not forgetting anything important like family and friends, your interests and celebrating who we are, and doing the things to fulfill a happy life etc.  Not easy for humans... maybe Flamingos.  Many are celebrating Easter this weekend or Passover this past week and Ramadan.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Until next week.

Last week I tried a new social group called Young at Heart.  It's a group for people over 50.  A lot of the people there are older than I am.  Rebecca from my book study group said she'd try it out with me.  The book study ends ths week until Autumn, and I thought I'd see if this might be what replaces it.   They sat us at a table and the people at that table were delightful.  I met Lori and her husband... forgot his name.  Both so very nice.   So, in the month of March I've met two ladies close to my age.  Rebecca and Lori.  Today I returned and Lori wondered if I would come without a friend.  I am way too independent for being dependent on people.  

Now that it's Spring, do you feel the need to Spring Clean?  This year, I do.  I can't say that's typical each year.  It maybe a retirement thing.  I put together 3 bags to give to the thift store and Brady and I dropped the bags off last Friday.  I felt the need to start collecting items for another bag as soon as we got home.   After dropping the bags off we went over to my hair salon and Brady got to say hi after 3 years of being gone due to the pandemic.  The ladies who work there asked about Riley too.  I told them we'd be back.  They did the boys hair since they were young.  The boys would climb up onto a booster chair to get their hair cut.  I love that we've known them that long.

Today marks 31 years since Krista succumbed to her injuries from an automobile accident on March 24, 1992.  We waited days for her to return to us but she never did.  She was 20 years old and left behind her daughter Brittany who was 18 months old at the time.  I remember thinking "How do I go on without her in my life?"  I was 16 years old when she was born.  Despite our age difference and that we were 1/2 sisters, I tried to stay active in her life.  I now try to stay active in Brittany's life... who is an active worker and single mom.  It's not easy.  "Busy" is hard to work with.  But we try.