My Retirement Journey

Have you ever had a day suddenly change, and you are surprised to find yourself somewhere you never planned? That was today.  Some scheduling was wrong or something, and we got a call from Auburn Mountainview High school asking if Brady (and I) could attend a Rotary Club luncheon where he was to be awarded a scholarship.  Huh?  OK, I know if the Rotary Club are giving you money for education, you show up and shine.  And, that is what Brady and I did.  It ended up being a big deal.  The GRC president and director of the GRC Foundation was there (I was able to say hi), counselors, principals, and the Auburn School District superintendent was there too.  70 students from all 3 Auburn high schools were chosen for a $500 scholarship.  That is a lot of money.  We both back at home looked at each other " Did we just do that?"  It was so unplanned, but fun. 

These two are siblings.  This photo is of Riley and his younger sister, Isabella, when they were younger.  Same dad, different mom.  They also have an older brother and sister, Darian and Elaina (same dad, different mom).  So Riley has 2 brothers and 2 sisters with him smack in the middle.  We will see them all at the graduation party for Brady.  We decided years ago, for the sake of the kids, to be a big family.  This even includes Riley's dad.   Grief hit us hard when Elaina (below) committed suicide in February 2021.  We've needed each other for the good times and the bad.  The next summer, Riley graduated after she passed.  She was to attend the graduation, and she might have.  She loved dragonflies,  and a big dragonfly landed on Riley's papers he was holding as he sat in his chair, on the football field at his high school graduation.  Even Riley, who usually doesn't believe in signs or symbols couldn't help admit he felt his sister'

The top totem poll is in Sequim WA, and the second one is in Port Townsend.  I sure hope to go there this summer ❤️.   I love totem polls in the PNW.  I need to do further research on these.  I do know some history of Port Townsend that hoped to be a main port that the railroad would go.  However, that was awarded to Tacoma.  I don't understand what made those citizens believe a railroad would choose to go to Port Townsend on a peninsula.  The town also had a lot of crime with shanghais, prostitution, and forcing the Native Americans to leave their homes and shooting many of them.  It's amazing it has become the lovely place I know.  😊 

This post is about Toby, our youngest cat.  We adopted him at the shelter.  He was the littlest cat.  Kari decided she needed a snuggle cat.  Leon wasn't one.  So we got Toby.  She wanted one with less hair.  Leon is a long haired Tuxedo cat.  So Toby ended up NOT being a snuggle cat and has long dense hair due to being a Maine Coon.  He has personally plus.  Leon became a snuggle cat and adores Kari now.  It didn't turn out as planned but we are glad to have Toby.  He loves me and Brady.  He loves hanging out with Brady while doing homework or on his phone.

My mom was great at shopping.  When she passed away, a lot of her treasures were passed on to me and Kari.  A lot of it we can't use, or have room for it.  But, Ron, my step-dad, didn't know what to do with it.  In this case, there are 4 collector's plates.   I didn't feel right to send them off to the Goodwill.  The four are worth $124.  I could sell them on Ebay or I could bless someone.  I decided to bless someone.  We have a Facebook group in our area for giving unneeded items that are in good condition.  I took pictures and put them online.  A lady responded for her friend that collects plates.  She picked them up the next day giving me a hug.  I can't see something that can be used forever staying in a closet or shed.  I understand being a collector as well... I just don't collect plates.  I think my mom would approve of what I did with her plates.  You know, she never hung them on the wall.  I don't remember them.  I know she thought they

I didn't get into the photos this time.  We are planning to do a family photo shoot in October.  I will have lost over 50 lbs by then... well, that's my plan.  Anyway, we've sent out Brady's announcements for graduation.  That was tricky because he's graduating with a high school degree and an AA degree from the college.  On the announcements, both are mentioned but we featured high school more.  He's getting an AA degree because of a dual credit program called Running Start.  He started college credits as a junior in high school online due to Covid.  2021 he could return to the high school but Running Start was a way to stay home and be safe, as well as take advantage of this program.  He'll be the 3rd in the family to graduate from Green River College.  Kari, 2014, Riley 2021 & 2022 (two degrees), and now Brady.  I worked there 22 years but I have never taken a class.  Maybe I will in the future.  My degrees are all from colleges in CA.  I

For fun I put these two photos together.  Riley graduated in 2021 and Brady graduates in June.  We just sent out the announcements.  From this point on, we will be preparing for his two graduation and party.  Have a good weekend.

These two people, although not blood related are our PNW family.  They are Chuck and Carol.  Earlier last week Chuck was mowing the lawn and he'd run out of breath and energy.  Knowing something wasn't right, he went to the doctors.  They ran tests and discovered he had 4 blocked arteries.  Thank God he didn't have a heart attack.  Last Friday he had bypass surgery and from all indicators it went well.  However, when they perform the surgery, they collapse the lungs.  His lungs were taking time to fill again and he remained on a ventilator until Tuesday.  We were praying, let me tell you.  He's wearing a Happy Birthday tiera because it was his daughter's birthday.  She said he gave her a best gift.  I agree.

This morning, Kari got into her car and her back car window was shattered.  It seemed to be random because no other car was bothered.  It was very confusing but when she moved her car, I found this bullet on the ground.  It had to be the culprit.  Later we discovered there was gang activity on our hill.  Not making me happy... we plan to move this fall.  I guess this is a good sign to go.

This photo of a hummingbird makes me think of "If there's a will, there's a way."  I am down 16 lbs now, which wasn't much but the scale went the right way.  I need to keep my determination.

  One of the greatest helps to me for moving forward is YouTube.  I have found woman that are seniors that are talk about their lives, make up, skin care, clothes etc. for older women.  And last week I discovered I was watching hour shows about US History, glass ware, jewelry finds at the thrift stores and other things.  These subjects are topics I have cared about in my life but had put on pause for one reason or another.  It reminds me of the square dance pause... something comes up and one puts their interests aside for one reason or another.  Usually, it is for a family issue, or one has to put their energy towards work. A long time ago, when Kari was a little girl, my hobby was collecting vintage software.  I decided to have a complete set of carnival glass glasses for the house.  There were various pieces of vintage glassware that I had out for display, but in time with the boys etc. I put them up and away in that cabinet above the refrigerator.  I stopped collecting

June 9th they will be giving us the retiree's social event at GRC.  I started feeling this week this invitation would be coming out soon, and here it is.  Yes, I will be there.  I am actually looking forward to it.  I hope my friends come over to the SU to enjoy our send off.  Some of the people on the list I knew retired and some i didn't.  It's kind of a graduation, isn't it?

Port Townsend is one of my favorite places.  I found it when my friend and I came here to go to North Shore for sea glass.  They use to dump trash off the cliffs there.  We spent hours looking for old smoothed glass that was smoothed by the water, sand, and rocks for years.  One finds lots of greens, clear, and brown glass but every now and again there's a find of blue, red, etc.  I have always seen sea glass as a symbol of living.

In July, Sequim WA has a Lavender Festival 💜   After my divorce in 2010, I started exploring new places that I had wanted to go.  One place was Port Townsend and another was the Lavender Festival on the other side of the water.  We have great memories as a family.  There is a street fair that was eventually moved to the park.  There are lots of vendors etc.   There are also farm tours where one can drive to the farms, park, spend time on the farm, and shop.  Each farm there are booths and/ or gift shops.  Attending the fair and the farms can take the whole day.  We end up staying in a motel and going to Port Townsend as well.   This year I am not sure if we are going.  The boys have grown up and Kari seems to want to do something else.  This requires me to dig into research what's out there.  I still would like to go but I am also ready for new adventures as well.

This photo was taken before my mom went in for open heart surgery.  It's of her and her girls minus Krista, who was in heaven.  At the left is Krista's daughter, Brittney, Kari is on the right, and I am at the top.  I can't remember the year or the dates.  My guess would be 2000 - 2001.  The boys were unknown at this time.  I might have been maybe 45?  My mom was about the age I am now.  She passed away in 2017 at the age of 84.  Her mom lived to one month shy of 90 yrs old.  This is how I am gaging how to care for myself in retirement. The obvious first task is dealing with all the years I sat behind a desk and didn't move... weight gain. I have now lost 15 lbs.  I am starting to feel better and notice changes, such as more energy.  My goal is to be 25 lbs lighter at Brady's graduation and at least 30 - 35 lbs lighter by July 4th.  Hopefully, 40 lbs by the end of July and 50 lbs by my birthday at the end of August.  (I think I will plan the rest later i

This is the time of the year that we use to be super involved in square dancing due to the teens competition being on the first weekend of May.  This is the first one that has returned since 2019.  Covid hit before the competition in May 2020.  Above in the photo is the square dance community returning.  Riley and Brady (can't be seen well) is sitting with their caller Brett.  He's in charge of the club they belonged to.  They are watching competitors on the floor. I was so blessed, thankful, and happy to once again see my friends and hug them.  For 3 years, I haven't known when or where that would happen again that we came together, or if it would ever.  To come out on the other side of Covid to this event is awesome.   What surprised me was how much the kids grew, and that Riley stayed for the whole thing... enjoying everyone as I was.  Below are the boys in their competition attire in 2018.

Last night was Brady's Robotics Award Night.  He's been in this club for the past three years.  It was online at first due to Covid.  He was awarded Most Inspirational by his peers for being positive during stressful times such as the competitions.   Have a great Memorial Day weekend!  Tomorrow marks 4 months of being retired.  

It's Cinco de Mayo.  Normally I would have a Mexican dinner.  Not sure how I am managing the diet and traditions yet.  I've lost 12.6 lbs according last Monday's weigh in... so I am sure a bean and cheese burrito is out.  I'll need to be creative.  As a native Califorian I can find a way.   I hope you have a great weekend. See you back on Monday.

May the Force (4th) be with you.  I remember standing in a long line to see the first movie of Star Wars.  I like Star Wars as much as I liked Star Trek on TV.  I enjoy characters such as Yoda, R2D2, and 3CPO.  Mark Hamilton is nice but I am strange, I didn't really have an attachment to movie stars.  Maybe because I lived in LA and I knew it was all story telling... I had enough issues with the boys I liked at school.  I do like the idea of the Force.  It's good verses evil, I know.  And there are those that are good that turns evil.  Then, there are the unknowing, and those that feel challenged etc forcing the Jeti to make hard choices.  Seems familiar, right?  Guess that's why I like it. You?

I am slow getting going today.  I like to stay in bed a while on Mondays, just because I can.  I use to dislike Mondays.  But it's the first day of a new month and new week and I need to put my plan in place.   I only lost 1.6 lbs this week.  It was the right direction but there is are plateaus some weeks.  I have to stay the course.