Never Too Late

A woman I’ve known for a number of years is retiring at the end of the year. She is not yet 60 years old, but the prospect of retirement is not something she views with apprehension. Rather, she is quite excited about the whole thing.

          She was a stay-at-home mom for a while after her marriage, and raised three children. When the youngest one was in second grade, she decided to rejoin the workforce, and found a job with a large law firm. She enjoyed her work and was fascinated by the process of law. She’s the only person I know who reads law cases for entertainment! Eventually, she took some introductory law courses in the evening and did quite well.

          One day, she confided in me that her aim was to get a law degree and become a legal aid lawyer. She wanted to help those who need it most. However, her plans had to be put on hold when one of her sons was seriously injured in an accident. She spent years helping him and encouraging him as he fought to regain the use of his legs, so the study of law fell by the wayside. But she was very proud when he was again able to walk unaided.

          She wanted to continue her studies, but found it difficult to do it in the evening, so she set out to define her long-term plan. She decided to retire and go to university full-time which will give her many years to practice law. She will begin full-time studies in January. With the credits and the experience she already has, she expects to graduate in just a few years.

          Some people say that she’s crazy. That she should travel and enjoy life. She intends to do just that. As she told me, my law degree will make my life most enjoyable, and I’ll still have time to travel because I intend to work only part-time. Her husband supports her; he himself plans to write a book when he retires in a few years.

          I admire them all. They make the most of life. They truly believe that it’s never too late to learn or try something new. The bottom line is that retirement is really a time to do the things we are passionate about.

 

‘Tis the Season

Just as winter comes every year whether we like it or not, so does the cold and flu season. We all know the rules to avoid catching “what’s going around”: washing our hands often; avoiding touching our eyes, nose and mouth after being in contact with public things where germs might lurk (door knobs, phones, etc.); keeping away from people who have a cold or the flu (although that’s not always easy when it’s a family member); drinking plenty of water; getting enough sleep; and so forth, but we still might be unable to avoid getting sick.

         Of course there are many over-the-counter medications touted to relieve symptoms. Most of them do their job well, as long as they are not past their prime. What I mean is that many of us have spent our lives being money-wise. We don’t throw things out unless it is absolutely imperative, so when we buy a medication one year to help us through a cold, we tend to keep it in the medicine cabinet. Maybe I’ll need it again, we tell ourselves. And the following year, or two years later when a cold hits, we search for anything we might have on hand. The trouble with that is that it could be well past it’s ‘best before’ date.

           Winter is a good time to clean out the medicine cabinet and throw away old medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. I put mine all in a bag and bring it to my local pharmacy where they dispose of such things in a safe manner. Throwing old pills in the toilet is definitely not a ‘green’ step because there is a risk that some of it might make its way into the water supply.

           Or there might be another option. As my neighbor Marj says, “When a cold remedy is past its best-by date, I pass it on to my ex. Either it does nothing, or he gets better, or if I’m real lucky he gets sicker.” It’s a matter of perspective, isn’t it?

 

 

 

Winter is a comin’

I live near a large marina full of activity during the good months. These days, as I walk along the water, the boats are all gone, and while the weather is still reasonably warm in my neck of the woods, the empty marina is a sure sign that winter is on its way.

Those of us who live in a four-season climate have to adjust to changing weather all through the year, however adjusting to the bitter cold of winter can be more challenging than adjusting to, say, the warm breezes of spring. The secret is to meet the challenge dead on by preparing for it and making the most of it.

            I’ve always enjoyed winter and still do because I don’t hibernate. I cross-country ski or snowshoe as often as I can. When that’s not possible, I make it a point of at least going for a walk outside in the fresh air. To me, one of the best benefits of embracing winter rather than cursing it is that it makes me feel renewed physically and mentally.

            Of course, many boomers prefer to get away from it all for several months and are already planning their winter escape to warmer climes. Not everyone can or wants to do that. Many people have family or other obligations that prevent them from being away for long periods. Personally, taking a trip south for one or two weeks during the colder months is enough. I could not see myself as a snowbird away for months.

            To each his own, of course. Variety is what makes life what it is. If everyone was the same or thought the same, it would be kind of boring, don’t you think? It’s the same with seasons. I enjoy living in an area where the weather is constantly changing no doubt because I have lived in the south where the temperature doesn’t really vary all that much. While not having to wear winter boots and coats was very nice, I missed the seasons. I miss the variety and now I enjoy it as much as I can.

 

 

Honor to our Veterans

The first time I went to Europe some years ago, I visited two military cemeteries honoring fallen soldiers. The white crosses all in a row as far as the eye could see brought tears to my eyes. A cross for every young man who gave his life for his country in bloody wars. We don’t often think of how many soldiers perished to ensure the enemy was defeated, but we should. And we should also never forget the number of soldiers who came home after giving their all in battle. We owe them so much. What courage!

At the November ceremonies honoring veterans, we see older men who served in WWII proudly at attention, but there are also so many younger veterans these days. The ranks of young men and women who served their country in varied far-away places with honor keep growing. Let’s show them we appreciate their sacrifice. As someone put it: A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'citizens of my country' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is honor. There are too many people who no longer understand what it means.

This November, let’s pay homage to all those who ensured our freedom. We owe them that much and so much more. And let’s make sure our children and grandchildren understand the sacrifices of our veterans.

Lest we forget, lest they forget.