Rambling Rayna: November 2013

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Sleep and Silence

In the months prior to my retirement, I often wondered what these days would be like. I did imagine getting more sleep, which has been blissfully wonderful. Did I say I LIKE it?!? I am what statisticians call a "mid-morning person." I don't like early morning but by 10 am, it's my prime productivity time until about 2 pm. After 2, I would fight sleep and I was usually ready for sleep by 10 pm.

Now, that I don't have to have the alarm set every day, it's blissful to sleep until my body says "wake up." Most days that has been after 8 or 8:30 am ....times in the past that I would have to be at work!

At night I have found that I am staying up later to read or watch a movie. It feels great to have that option. Last night I accompanied my hubby on a courier run to a town about 2.5 hours or so from here. I even did half the driving. Since I did have an appointment today at 10 am, I thought I had better set the alarm for 9 am as a precaution since we got home a little after 2 am this morning. I forgot how to set my alarm clock! Hubby and I got a chuckle out of that one.

One of the things I imagined about retirement was having the radio or CD's playing all day with my favorite music. I have not! I am not sure why not, but I am enjoying the silence in the house. No phones ringing, no overhead public address announcements, no kids crying in the lobby outside my office. This, too, has been blissful.

I find it ironic, some of things I am discovering about retirement and about myself. I am sure there are more discoveries....after all I've only been retired for 8 work days! The other days were vacation.

Speaking of vacations, my friends are already asking me, "when and where to is your next trip?" Just saw a bargain on a two-nights stay in New Orleans. Hmmm?

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Hit ya!

Sometimes things hit ya like a lead pipe along the head....Wham! It wouldn't be a "wham" if it was expected or planned. Today, I was watching the Packer - Viking game at a local restaurant/bar and the game went into overtime. All of a sudden I thought of my dad and I could imagine him say loudly and with a force of breath being expelled from his mouth.... "Uff!" And he would kind of shake his body like trying to repel the feeling. I could even see him in "his chair" watching the game on their TV at home.

I started to cry, missing him. Ya never know when the grief will hit ya!

I will be the first to admit that I rarely cry. Once in a great while, a movie may touch me enough to drop a tear or two, but not too often. I have sometimes wondered if I was too bitter, angry or emotionally dead and that is why I wouldn't cry?

Thanks to hubby and his handkerchief, I think I managed to regain composure and finish watching the game that ended up as a tie.

Dad had a way of saying something that was witty or funny and it would just "hit ya" to start laughing. It brings a smile to my face, even now. In a few days, it will be six months since his passing.

I think I will just call my dad's better half, my mom, and see if she watched the game. She could be quite the cheerleader too....especially when it came to Packer-Viking games.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Cold Front

The weatherman has been warning us all week...."there's a cold front coming." The newspaper today said, "Get out your gloves, hats and jackets, the cold front is coming."

I live in the southern tip of Texas, about 75 miles northwest of South Padre Island/Brownsville. It's a semi desert or tropical paradise depending how much irrigation and water is used to make the desert into tropics. The first year or two of living here we had mild winters, never even turned on the heat. Then for the past few years, we have had cold fronts hitting us now and then. In fact two years ago, we had two killing frosts.

Being from Up North, I welcome a cold front now and then. It refreshes me!

Today, a massive rain storm came through and dumped lots of water on the Valley (as we fondly call this area we live in). At noon the temperature was 85 degrees and by tomorrow morning it will be in the forties! Yes, 40 +/- degrees!

Again, I look forward to it, I can actually wear my jeans and my long sleeve shirt (I think I only have one or two long-sleeved shirts) that I wear occasionally in the winter. So bring it on, Old Man Winter....but just don't expect me to move back Up North where you reside for six months of the year!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Discoveries

Day 4 of my retirement week and I have discovered some things already.

1. It's possible to stay awake beyond 10:30 pm when I know I won't have an alarm to awaken me in the morning. Sleeping past 8 am must be contagious as even hubby slept until 8:30 am this morning.

2. Going grocery shopping during the weekday means I can get an upfront and close parking spot. I know I need the exercise, but I already walked a mile in the morning.

3. Going grocery shopping as a retiree means I see that products have prices! Believe me, my hubby can attest to the fact that I never looks at prices when grocery shopping. Hubby (previously a purchasing manager) often quizzes me on the what something cost and was there a cheaper brand? "I don't know, I didn't look at the price. I needed it, I bought it." Fortunately for us, money has not been an issue. I think, due to decreased income, my thinking is already changing.

4. Along the same thoughts of food....I have not lived up to my worst fears of retirement....that I would eat myself out of house and home if I am home every day with nothing to do! In fact today, we ate breakfast so late, we are having two meals today with a candy snack in-between. I have not lost my sweet tooth.

5. Invitations for weekday activities can now be accepted. Went to a friend's open house yesterday. Felt so good!

6. I can clean and rearrange one drawer or shelf each day and feel like I accomplished something. At this rate I should have the house clean by the time I reach age 70. Add to that going through photos to delete and sort & I will keep plenty busy.

In fact after the first day jitters, I have found this lifestyle growing on me. But, you know me, I will keep you posted!