Category: Retired life

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The Blank Page

Adjusting to life in retirement

Steeped in Thought

by Debra VanDeventer

green tea with lemon

a beautiful way to greet

a blank page

That was then….

The alarm wakes me from a fitful sleep at 4:45 am. I roll out of bed, make a potty stop, then a few minutes of yoga to try to prepare myself for the intense day ahead. Breakfast, shower, dress, out the door by 6:30, at school by 7. Adrenaline pumping. Prepared (most mornings) to greet 25-30 energetic kindergarteners, first graders or, later in my career, fourth graders. Done. Click. Repeat. For 37 years. 

This is now….

Sunlight streaming through the slats in the window blinds rouses me from a restful night’s sleep. The days are lengthening and the sun will wake me a few minutes earlier each day. My biological clock adjusts itself to the rhythm of daylight and darkness. This morning’s yoga session is leisurely, breakfast and a walk follows. After showering, I put on comfy leggings and a soft tunic top. Shoes are optional. The tea kettle signals my morning brew is ready. I make my way to my office/studio, open my journal and greet…

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Good Company

Winter Visitors Flock to the Southwest

Midwesterners arrive

Winter visitors flock to your house when you live in the Southwest. That’s when Midwesterners droop and lose their color. Two weeks ago, Ed and I hosted my siblings and siblings-in-law. We had a fun packed weekend of food, drink, hiking, and sightseeing. A niece dropped by and camped out on the sofa one night. My brother and sister stayed an extra few days.

“If we have to work from home, we might as well work from your home,” they said.

 We were happy to carve out some home office space to accommodate them. They left on Thursday and returned to Chicago just in time to experience another round of severe winter weather.

The crew arrives from Georgia

Two days later, just enough time to wash sheets and towels and restock the fridge, my son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter arrived. They escaped wet and cold Georgia to spend their week-long winter break with us. We enjoyed another fun week of hiking, dining outside, after-dinner games, and s’mores around the fire pit. 

Peace at last

Today the house is quiet. All our company is gone. They’ve returned to their other lives, Ed and I will return to ours. How quickly we revert to our familiar routines. I’m a little sad as I tidy up the house where bits and pieces of the last two weeks remain.

Outdoor chairs scatter around the fire pit.

A half finished puzzle is left on the dining room table.

https://www.newyorkpuzzlecompany.com/products/cacti-cactus

A post-it note and fabric scraps hang out near the wastebasket in the sewing /guest room where I helped Lillian make an apron for herself and we attempted to make a dress for her fashion doll.

(We discovered Grandma does NOT know how to make doll clothes. This accounts for most of the fabric scraps.)

Lillian models her new apron.

Smears of flour, water, and egg are glued to the kitchen floor after a night of pasta making.

 Suddenly, I’m not in a hurry to sweep away these reminders. Good times. Good memories. Good company.

Threads of thought icon

Threads of Thought:

We live far away from some family members so we try to make the most of the time we have together. How do you stay connected with family and friends who may not live close?

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Heartfelt

Confessions of a former Kindergarten teacher

I wasn’t going to do it this year. I swear I wasn’t. But old habits die hard. After 37 years in an elementary classroom, the school calendar still runs in my veins. And on February 1st the hearts began to pop up everywhere. First, a trip to the fabric store where I scored some half-price fabric and this shiny (dare I say gaudy) wreath. Then at the dollar I couldn’t resist buying Valentine’s Day cards and a bag (OK, 2 bags) of Valentine Candy. Yes, I know, I don’t have a class. And I don’t want one. After three years of retirement, I’ve become accustomed to living life on my own schedule. What stress I have is of my own making. I’m not sure I could even survive Valentine’s Day in a classroom anymore, But still…

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