Worries
I would guess that everyone who makes it into their sixties has some worries even if they may not use that word. In my case it is not about finances or health. I have a sister and a son that often cause me to loose some sleep. I am sure that I will post something about them at some point.
Tomorrow I am going to Minnesota to see our older son who is rarely a worry. He and his wife are taking a vacation and I am headed out there to babysit the two children.
Blogs
I read a number of blogs. It all started with knitting blogs. I knit on and off - my mother was from Scotland and she got me started when I was around 10. I usually have something on knitting needles to pass the time when watching tv or when I am a passenger on a long trip.
I found that knitting blogs were about much more than just knitting. Check on
Fillyjonk's Progress for instance.
Then I got interested in seeing the world through the eyes of others and started reading a blog from a woman in Israel.
Allison was a reporter and is from the US originally. She provides a window into Israeli life From her blog I linked to a young Jewish mother in Brooklyn.
AidelMaidel has recently stopped blogging for fear of her identity being revealed. She was an excellent writer - a young mother torn being the outside world and her very strict orthodox religion. I was interested in these two blogs because I grew up on Long Island in an area of many Jewish families. I am not religious although was raised in the Christian faith. But that upbringing help contribute to a lifelong interest in all religions.
A Star from Mosul is a blog from a young Iraqi girl. She has a lot to say. She comes from a close knit family and several of them have their own blogs. I never supported the war in Iraq but I felt I needed to get a view of it from those we are suppose to be helping there. And I did hope we were helping. I think the best thing we can do now is to get out as quickly as we can. Another Iraqi blog that I read is
A Family in BaghdadI feel privileged to be able to enter some incredible lives.
Retirement
I retired in 2001 just before 9/11. At the time I felt I was ready.
I had worked since I was 12 years old - first as a mother's helper in summers, then at a factory where we made Christmas decorations, then after school and during college vacations as an information operator for Brooklyn and Queens (411). When I graduated from college, I had a certificate to teach high school. Thinking I could always go back to teaching, I became a computer programmer for Metropolitan Life in NYC. I continued as a programmer with GE in upstate NY where I also got married.
I stayed home with my children for about 5 years and then started back part-time doing programming. By then we were living in the Northwest. My part time job became full time and I ended after 22 years as manager of a computer services group.
I felt I was ready to retire not because I did not enjoy the job - it was fun
seeing things get accomplished and I loved the people I worked with. But I was ready to do something different. But what? I was sure I would figure that out.
To start with I kept myself busy. I love to hike and explore. I read alot. I have a pilot's license. I enjoy dancing. For retirees with time there are endless things to do. Just staying in shape can take a lot of time. But that does not define me.
Volunteering is important and I have found two volunteer activities that right now work out for both myself and the people I help. One involves reading at a local school and the other involves helping with education activities at a local wildlife refuge.
I am still not sure this is what I want for the rest of my life. I know I am lucky to live in this country at this time. To be able to retire comfortably and to be able to ask the question of what to do with the next years. Perhaps this is just a restless time as we pursue this last phase of life.
Spanish Class
This afternoon I went to my Spanish class given by our local commmunity center. THe teacher is amazing - she is from Quatemala and is very engaging. We all feel that we are learning proper Spanish. There are 7 of us in the class. 6 ladies and 1 man. Some of us are taking it with the thought of being able to get around easily when we travel, one person is a nurse who feels she will use it in her job and some of us see it as a way to keep the brain cells active. It probably doesn't matter why as the class is definitely fun.
Need to Respond
I have started this blog because I had to create one to respond to someone. The blogger that I wanted to post to has been one I have been following for some time. She is an excellent writer. And so maybe I will try to be one also.
