As my last day at work drew to a close, I started disappearing from my job. I was locked out of some websites, my email stopped, I was informed that my name was stricken from the directory. It was like in Back to the Future, when Marty’s family starts disappearing from photos. But in a way it felt good. I am no longer part of that organization. That part of my life is over.
The first day of my retirement I arose at 7:38 with that lovely feeling that you get on Saturday, with the whole weekend ahead of you. The second best part of waking up was that I wanted to get up around 7:30 and without an alarm clock, my body obeyed my wishes. I spent the morning just sitting around, starting the preparation for breakfast, reading the newspaper, the grand kids dropped by for a visit and they brought the littlest one, who was spending the day at the main house while her parents went to a wedding.
And every now and again I’d get that little thrill. “It’s always Saturday now.”
Visiting West Broadway on a sunny afternoon with my husband to pick up the necessaries for a Greek feast, I sat on the bench waiting for the bus. One of my favourite Saturday things is getting the food for a special meal and taking it home to cook. And now it’s always Saturday.
I got out the hose as the sun left our back yard and gave the plum tree a good spray with some soap (aphids, ugh!). Doing a little gardening is another Saturday treat. And now it’s always Saturday.
This morning (nominally Sunday, but still, Saturday #2), I got up (7:32 am) and got into my gym togs. I promised myself that I would get back to the gym on a frequent basis. But I only LIKE to go to the gym first thing in the morning. If I sit around and think about it I have dozens of reasons not to go to the gym. Work mornings started at 5:45 to give me enough time to get ready and get to work. But I told myself I would do it as soon as I retired. And I did! Sitting here in my slightly damp gym clothes I feel like I’ve already accomplished so much! Early mornings at the gym was an occasional weekend thing — but I’ll do it again on Tuesday, and Thursday, and next Sunday.
Because it’s Saturday every day.
Now I’m off to the showers. In the middle of the day, when the sun pours in through the window and you feel like you are in a sun shower.
See you next Saturday.
❤
good for you Pat, you will do good at retirement. it does take skill, you know