Vacation Day!

Workers that world around know the excitement of the "vacation day!"  

Having been retired for over five years, many people still working have told me, "You're on vacation every day now."  Well, technically yes, but figuratively no.  There are things to do and places to go.... doctor appointments, church commitments, lunch with friends, grocery shopping, etc.  It seems like our calendar has at least one commitment every day.  

The other night I looked at my calendar and saw that there nothing planned for the next day.  [Side note, I have to look at my calendar as I don't have a work schedule to remind of which day of the week it is.  I know, such a tough life.]  My first thought on seeing the empty day on the calendar was "vacation day."  Where did that thought come from?  I wonder, is that really what retirees call their nothing-planned days now?  I doubt it.  What is a good term for retirees to use? 

Regardless, the feeling was good!  There may or will come a time in my life when I have many empty days on my calendar.  Until then, I will excited by my "vacation days," retired or not!

Gray Saturday?

I saw someone mention that yesterday was Gray Saturday.  I couldn't find too much about that term on Google, except that after Black Friday comes Gray Saturday.  Did a little shopping on Black Friday for a first time experience.  I am usually on vacation or working on the day after Thanksgiving, so it was unique to go out and experience it.  Actually, it was a piece of cake and very light crowds in my estimation.  Granted, I was no where near the electronics section of the stores and I waited until after 9 a.m. to venture out.  :)

Saturday came with warmer temperatures after our cool front visited us for a week.  The warmer temperatures helped to deal with the mostly cloudy sky.  Hubby was gone most of day on courier runs and I was alone.  Alone with my thoughts of family Up North getting  together for the annual Cookie Bake.  Last year I promised them and myself that I would be attending this year.  But, that was before I decided I just had to see and experience Hawaii.  So, it was not in-the-cards this year for me to travel up there.  There's always next year.

I guess if I was going to feel lonely, I best do something that made me think of family.  NO!  I did not bake cookies.  I created their Christmas present - a calendar with photos that I have taken in the past year. It was fun re-living some of the experiences and re-loving places we visited by picking out photos for their calendar.  I hope they will like it!

Also, I created our Christmas card and ordered it.  Now it's to get that annual Christmas letter written.  In the theme of Thanksgiving, it's always nice to reflect back on the past year and where we went and what we did.  It seems we never run out of things to write about!  The beginning of year we had Mom & Dad visiting us and the birth of a new great nephew, Nash, to the end of the year and our Hawaii trip.  Lots of good things in between, so very thankful.