tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post8558910112456521818..comments2024-03-13T04:00:21.690-05:00Comments on Life 101 : Christmas Time's a ComingRick Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005727239466916086noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-38916576239343224092010-12-17T07:47:13.621-06:002010-12-17T07:47:13.621-06:00Welcome to the world of retirement! My husband was...Welcome to the world of retirement! My husband was offered an early buyout in 1993, but he had 9 mo. to do it in. The company started outsourcing work, this is a high profile company most people know and they lost 90% of their upper mangement in the first buyout. My husband retired at 58 or 59 yrs. old, had planned to work until 65 yrs. old. Things have a way of working out for the best. He missed the comradie of co-workers for about 5 yrs. and now he might talk to a few a couple of times a year and exchange Xmas Cards and it's out of sight, out of mind. The one thing that urked me when he retired was that all the close neighbors thought he was there to help them with their home projects and to save them money from hiring it to be done yet when we could have used their help, they were never around or we had to wait for weeks till they could work us "into their schedule" to help us. He and I usually stuggled on our own and didn't end up needing them. He allowed himself to be used as a dogsitter so the neighbors would have to pay boarding fees for their dogs while they went on vacation or away for a weekend at their beach home. We moved to a Sr. Citizens community where nobody asks for your help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-79251442756339973112010-12-11T20:09:33.685-06:002010-12-11T20:09:33.685-06:00Enjoy your Christmas without the pager! It was nic...Enjoy your Christmas without the pager! It was nice of you to let your colleagues be home with their families.<br />I used to work in elder care back in my home country Sweden, and I had to work several Christmas days.<br /><br />I did answer your question over at my blog, and yes we carry the essential oil of patchouli. Let me know if you have any more questions.<br />http://youngliving.com/essential-oils/Patchoulijohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13707911947488175098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-41418917222805590782010-12-11T17:45:15.144-06:002010-12-11T17:45:15.144-06:00You capture exactly how my wife and I are feeling ...You capture exactly how my wife and I are feeling as well, since we 'retired' a few months ago. There's a liberation but also a constraint that maybe we could be doing something more.Paul Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01836602667355512504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-20023906499615062492010-12-11T11:22:45.955-06:002010-12-11T11:22:45.955-06:00Well, I think everybody's writing a book aren&...Well, I think everybody's writing a book aren't they :)<br />But I write a weekly column in the Lifestyle section of some local newspapers, and I also write features/interviews for two newspapers in the Birmingham (Alabama) area.<br /><br />I have a self published book called Remembering Big which is a compilation of my first year of columns.Rick Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01005727239466916086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-10336743601840140542010-12-11T11:02:50.494-06:002010-12-11T11:02:50.494-06:00You're such a nice guy. I'm new here and l...You're such a nice guy. I'm new here and love your posts. My uncle always gave up his Christmas so other folks with kids would be home. However, I always, always missed him at Christmas. What are you writing with a deadline? a book?Seriously Thoughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02020491686059164723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-42329107358179721072010-12-11T10:43:11.137-06:002010-12-11T10:43:11.137-06:00Good for you 101. Enjoy it while you're still...Good for you 101. Enjoy it while you're still young enough to enjoy it. I wonder if people realized from your job what a kind gesture it was for you to leave. In a world of greediness and me, me, me that is so refreshing to hear to me. No pagers, no work, and nothing but Santa and the Mrs. and family. Sounds like you have it coming to you!BBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09432729957196570774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-367405224165765272010-12-11T10:20:01.611-06:002010-12-11T10:20:01.611-06:00Amen, Grandpappy. You nailed it.Amen, Grandpappy. You nailed it.Rick Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01005727239466916086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-4746464332814696632010-12-11T10:05:57.286-06:002010-12-11T10:05:57.286-06:00We, your readers, can tell you like your "wor...We, your readers, can tell you like your "work." But there is usually a negative connotation to the word. I think, for you, the word should be "play" because you do enjoy it so much. Ever since I retired, I tell everyone that work is a four letter word, and should be avoided.Granpappyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357214903534207171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-55879228353428238792010-12-11T08:32:41.527-06:002010-12-11T08:32:41.527-06:00Thanks Jane for your kind words. Yes, we're of...Thanks Jane for your kind words. Yes, we're off to see the tree man. We're excited.<br /><br />Janet, I worked for MaBell for 33 years. I started as a child :)<br /><br />I've stayed really busy since leaving the day gig, but my work is the work I enjoy.Rick Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01005727239466916086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-11549521379153034072010-12-11T07:43:51.574-06:002010-12-11T07:43:51.574-06:00That was kind of you to fill in for your colleague...That was kind of you to fill in for your colleagues over the holidays. Have you said what you did in earlier posts? New here. <br />We (my husband) retired in July and what a pleasant change of pace. Enjoy!Janet, The Queen of Seafordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876204203323750245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19517251.post-21254369963813243672010-12-11T05:01:39.903-06:002010-12-11T05:01:39.903-06:00Glad you can look forward to a Christmas free from...Glad you can look forward to a Christmas free from a pager. What a great service you did over the years to allow the others, who had children, to be at home. This year, you enjoy your Christmas, and getting your tree today!<br /><br />JaneJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15206732452961715943noreply@blogger.com