Retired

According to The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company, updated in 2009, published by Houghton Mifflin Company, all rights reserved, the following is the definition of the word "Retirement:"

re·tire·ment



Emily Dickinson, recluse



n.

1. The act of retiring.

2. The state of being retired.

3. Withdrawal from one's occupation, business, or office.

4. Withdrawal into privacy or seclusion.

5. A place of privacy or seclusion; a retreat. See Synonyms at solitude.

Some other words and phrases that fit the description are: hang up the ax, swallow the anchor, call it a day and put out to pasture. 

In light of the aforementioned descriptors, I will choose number 5, "A place of privacy or seclusion; a retreat."   However, after I looked up the synonyms for solitude, I came across these mostly depressing words:  "confinement, desert, detachment, emptiness, isolation, loneliness, loneness, lonesomeness, peace and quiet, privacy, quarantine, reclusiveness, retirement, seclusion, separateness, silence, solitariness, waste, wasteland, wilderness, withdrawal."  Wow, whoever is writing these things about retirement is surely trying to scare anyone away from making that big decision to leave the active workforce.   Thankfully, I didn't look up the word before I chose to "remove myself from employment!" 



I have been retired almost one month now, but have been out of work due to surgery for almost three months.  I have worked since I was 14 years old and, for the last 25 years, as an "Administrative Assistant," (AKA secretary) for the local school district.  I have yet to become bored, confined, detatched, empty, isolated, lonely or silenced.  I haven't experienced waste, wilderness or withdrawals.  So far, I am quite enjoying this moment in time.  I cherish each morning I awaken to a new day full of things to do, but soon I realize that I can always do them tomorrow.  That's when I make that second cup of coffee and watch the birds and squirrels in the backyard, brush my cat, check my emails and perhaps soak in a long hot tub.  After the bath,  I need to check the calendar to figure out what day of the week it is, and then I decide upon what I will actually undertake for the day.  It might be to cook a meal for a friend, bring items to donate to Little Orphan Animals, run someone to a store, meet a friend for lunch or dinner, or cook a huge meal.  No one is asking me questions or looking for answers. 

I love, love, love taking care of the house, my number 1 best friend and love, and my cat, Lucy.



My #1 guy



Actually, I am enjoying the antonyms of solitude:  "companionship, friendship, togetherness."  As soon as I get bored, I'll blog about it.  But for now, Tuesday, March 22 (or is it the 23rd???), Life is Beautiful, just like Miss Lucy Lu. 

Miss Lucy Lu

Spring has Sprung

I heard my first robin a couple of days ago and thought it strange that it was still quite cold for the first "sign of spring" to be making such an early appearance. But, low and behold, I saw two of them today, wandering around the yard, looking to see where I've moved all their food and water sources. It is so interesting to see how the robins pair up and stick together throughout the mating, nesting, egg laying, hatching and feeding stages. Their teamwork is something most humans should emulate.

As much as I love robins, my favorite species of bird is the finch. Finch are around all year long. In summer, some are light greenish-yellow to bright yellow. In the cooler weather, they fade to a brownish green. Their sweet sound and diet preferences make them a welcome addition to my backyard. Fince mainly eat thistle, which most other birds, except for junkos and mourning doves, do  not eat. Since I don't offer wild bird seed, I limit the more aggressive birds, like jays and crows. Now don't get me wrong, I have a great respect for those tough, canabilisic types, but I really don't want them ravishing the robins' nests or bullying the beautiful finch. Not in my backyard!

The finch brighen up the back yard and their small and dainty appearance are a delight to watch. I love the way they fly up, up and away. I even read that aviators study their flight patterns, which, if you catch a glimpse, are quite facinating. Remember to stop and smell the roses and while you are at it, look up to watch the birds soar.