My Retirement Journey

I can hardly believe it, but we are heading into 2024.   Amazon dropped off a delivery with my name and address.  It was 4 3 inch D ring binders, that I didn't order.  Fred Meyer failed today to give me all the items I did order.  (I got my money back)  Geez, I spent time on the phone with both places.  Mercury Redrograde probably.   I felt better after buying beads and having my salad.  Good Grief.  It takes very few things to off set the day.  I am still not really caught up yet with what I wanted to do today.  It happens.  Gotta roll with it.  Until next year... 

I just found out Sue's in town   She wants to see me today.  I love being retired to do what I want.  She's going over to GRC and I will meet her there.   I got my journal to write in for 2024.  One thing I intend to do this year is write more about what's going on in life. Start being more serious about losing the other 45 lbs. Work on my beads and designs.  I've been working on the idea of suncatchers, purse dangles, etc.  I am studying it all on YouTube. Organization is another. Finances is another. (January is going to be lean. Only needs and beads.) Reading is on the list and daily structure.   I think about 10 items to work on January to March.  Have fun is included in all things, of course.  The idea to take time to slow down time is important.   I am starting all this today.

It's not far away... Last year I was planning my retirement at the end of January.  February I slept a lot.  March I stopped to think about what to do in retirement and adjust.  April I started a new health plan, and began Women's Bible Study.  It wasn't long until I began Young at Heart.  I wanted to learn about God and meet new friends.  June Brady graduated from high school and college.  The rest of the year was my birthday and holidays.  I began working with wire and beads which I discovered a talent.  Beaded spiders were next and a big hit.  After 45-50 lbs of weight loss, I slowed down for my body to catch up. Now it's time to go the rest of the way. Not bad for my first year of retirement.  I went through an adjustment.  But I tried to keep positive and busy.  I decided I can take down the plaque from GRC and place it with ny diplomas.  There is a shift there, so I am adjusting.   These next few days I will talk about what I hope to accomplish... my i

Santa is back to the North Pole sleeping.  This holiday came and went as I write this.  We started Saturday evening with a steak dinner and salad.  We opened one gift. On Christmas eve we went to church at 9 am for the service.  Afterwards we got pizza for Brady and burritos for Riley, Kari, and I for lunch.  Mexican food is a tradition.  I ate half and saved some for later. Around 5pm, they left to meet uo with Riley's dad, sister, and brother at a bowling party.  They were home again by 7:30 pm. We opened presents and ate a little before going to bed. Today Riley and I made brunch.  A hash brown, egg, and bacon dish... it turned out well.  But with all things new, we decided what we'd do different next time. Riley cooked the salmon and I made green bean casserole for a tradition.  Most things Kari and I can't eat but we have a little of the regular food on days like today.  Hopely not being into cakes and cookies etc will help us maintain our weight. It was a

This is an aging photo of my brother Jon and I seeing Santa.  Jon wanted nothing to do with it.  I, being older, was trying to console him with my right hand while smiling for the camera.  Being an older sister was rough sometimes. What was rough on Friday was going to Costco early.  Everyone did too.  Whew.

I don't know much about Yule, except for a log.  Yesterday I tried watching some videos on it.  There was a lot of information since it's been around a long time, so I gave up.  It's very earthy, and one is to have intentions, which are goals or desires for the new year.  I don’t think about that until next week.  Too much added on to what we already have going. We went to Fred Meyers to get the ingredients for pretzels to make.  Crazy busy.  I am glad most of the time I pick up my groceries.  Tomorrow Riley and I will go to Costco.  I am going to need to sleep well and prepare.  

This photo of me and Santa is about 63 yrs old.  I am seriously talking to Santa here, with my Bun Bun for support.   We are on our last week before Christmas.  Putting aside all the chaos it can bring, I am trying to think on the Advent.  This week is Joy.  The joy of the Lord is my strength.  The joy is that I can talk with, and have a relationship with God like I have in this photo with Santa.

Another weeks gone by.  December seems to be going faster than November.  I am starting to research for my next projects for January, February, and March.  I've been on Pintrest looking at ideas.  While I research ideas, my minds goes to other things to do... goals in 2024.  It's rather meditating to be in that future frame of mind.  I also have to be intuitive.  Then I turn it off and watch a Christmas movie.   Sunday we are to see Regan and I am still not decided on what we will eat.  Applebees or Mod Pizza.  It will be fun to give her the present we chose for her.

Yesterday I was in a little bit of pain from making 10 Christmas Spiders the night before.  My sxhedule was to have them finished by today.  Then I can put the Christmas beads away and start on new projects after the holidays.  My right arm and hand wasn't ready for the exercise.  I can do more than when I started but I overdid I.  Faulty planning on my part.  I couldn't move my hand very much.  But it's better now. Today was the Christmas Party for Young at Heart.  I got a tea cup in the exchange.  The photo has Georgia and Diana in it at the party.  There was snacks, the gift exchange, and Christmas music.  I gave out my Christmas Spiders to those I've become close to in the large group and the ladies at my table.  For the exchange, I gave a spider and a $10 Starbucks card.  I can't believe most of my Christmas events are over for this year.  Time goes so fast.

One of the songs I know says "I've got peace like a river."  Now since I live in Washington state, I know rivers are at times not peaceful.  In fact, they're dangerous.  But it gives a good visual of what peace is like when the river is calm.   Hope has no visual which is why it's hard to fully grasp what it is exactly.  I do know that once the desire hoped for becomes a reality, hope is gone.

The Studenr Affairs had their pot luck today.  I was surprised that it was downstairs in the lunchroom and not in the Rainier Room.  Many said the RR wasn't reserved on time and things were different cause I  retired.  I reserved rooms for years...  It was nice anyway especially to see everyone.  Irine gave me a mug.  I saw Lonnie who told me a car ran into her in a cross walk November 25th.  I also saw Shawn and gave him one of the Christmas Spiders.   It was fun to be with everyone. The phoro is from years past at this event. 

When I worked at the college, one of the events I would organize was our Study Day Pot Luck.  These days we couldn't call it a Christmas Pot Luck, and then we moved away from saying Holiday Pot Luck (which I think is fine, since most have a holiday in December).  We decorate in Christmas colors anyway.   Above is one of those pot lucks from years ago.  We moved it across the hall to a meeting room for more room. On Monday, I am attending the pot luck after retiring.  I can't believe a year has almost gone by.  But like I said, I am already thinking about my next steps now that I have got use to retirement.   More on the pot luck on Monday.

One of the things I love to do is give.  It is a joy to me.  And if I  can find out what is needed and meet that need, that makes my day.  I have a bit of Santa likeness in me.  I am not trying brag, I just truly like it.   Above is my brother Jon who's dog ate at his jacket.  My brother doesn't have much, he is practically homeless, and even in CA it gets cold.  So here he is in his new jacket.  I had to guess his size but it worked out well.  Made my day!   I look around at what I have and I think it's too much.  I always am trying to decide what I truly need to keep and what to let go of to benefit someone.   As I look at what I might do in retirement next year, I am wondering how I might be able to take this interest a little further.  Is it time to volunteer for something I believe in?  We will see what doors open.

This week the first candle in  Advent symbolizes Hope.  I am working on the true meaning of hope.  The pastor said it was profound certainty, which I think describes faith more.  With hope there's in our culture a sliver of "it could go either way but we hope for the best".  I know there's a deeper meaning to hope that we don't use or mean in our language.  It's like a wish, sort of.  Well, I have until Sunday's next word in the Advent to chew on this for thought.

One of the awesome things about retirement is waking up Monday mornings and realizing I don't have to go work. Today Kari and I started out early this morning.  She had her front window on her car changed due to a large crack.  So while they worked on her car, we went on a few errands.  Went to drop off to return a gift to Kari that her dad gave her twice.   Then we drove out to Maple Valley to Vine Maple Place to donate coats and some shirts I don't use since losing weight.  I will have more in February/ March.  They help single homeless parents to keep them off the streets with kids.  I've thought of volunteering with them in the future. Third stop was the Goodwill to donate more stuff, and to shop.  It's been a while since being there.  When Debra was available on Mondays we went there more.  I bought a Santa kneeling before baby Jesus figurine, a vase that I knew is worth 3x what I paid, maybe more, and two little angels. We were hungry so we ate at Chic

Thursday I went to Young at Heart, dropped off donations, went to Kohl's, and treated myself to a salad at Chic Fil A.  Not a bad ending to November. Last year at this time, I was starting to feel retirement draw near.  It was a little scary but I knew it was the correct thing to do going on intuition.  I am glad I did. I bought on sale and 30% off the sales price this snowman.  He was the last and he's one of my new additions to my shelves.  He's so merry and bright for bringing in December. Yesterday I spent time making Christmas Spiders and watching Christmas movies. Today is church but I feel sickness such as Covid is out there still.  I pick my battles or should I say when it's important to be out.   Riley hasn't got a job yet but it's coming.  I think he'll end up where his friend works. Next week has things happening.  I will have more to write about.