How do I know that my youth is all spent? Well, my get up and go and got up and went. But in spite of it all I am able to grin when I recall where my get up has been. Old age is golden - so I've heard it said - but sometimes I wonder when I get into bed, with my ears in a drawer and my teeth in a cup, my eyes on the table until I wake up.
Ere sleep dims my eyes I say to myself, "Is there anything else I should lay on the shelf?" and I'm happy to say as I close my door, my friends are the same, perhaps even more.When I was young, my slippers were red, I could pick up my heels right over my head. when I grew older, my slippers were blue, but still I could dance the whole night through. But now I am old, my slippers are black, I walk to the store and puff my way back. The reason I know my youth is all spent, my get up and go has got up and went.
But I really don't mind when I think with a grin, of all the grand places my get up has been. Since I have retired from life's competition, I accommodate myself with complete repetition. I get up each morning, and dust off my wits, pick up my paper and read the "obits." If my name is missing, I know I'm not dead, so I eat a good breakfast and go back to bed.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
RETIREMENT ???
I worked until I was 77 years old. People would regularly ask me "Why are you still working?" My response was always, "Because I want to." After that response they would usually say something like, "You should be relaxing in Hawaii with a large lemonade and a small blonde." Or is it the other way around? I've forgotten. Besides Joyce would object to the large lemonade. With regards to the small blonde, she would say, "Dogs chase cars...but they can't drive."
Some people really look forward to retirement. That's fine. They want to pursue other interests and adjust their lifestyle. Others, like me, would prefer to stay in the workforce for a variety of reasons.
If you look in Funk and Wagnall's Standard Dictionary you will read:
Retirement: "The act of retreating, a secluded place, an act of retiring."
Retire: "to go away or withdraw. to withdraw oneself from business, public life, or active service."
Retired: "Withdrawn from public view. Solitary. Secluded.
Retiring: "Shy. Modest. Reserved. Unobtrusive.
I don't really fit those definitions.
When the retirement age and Social Security established the age of 65 as the retirement age, you must remember in 1933 that was the life expectancy of a male human. Things have changed. People are living longer and healthier than 80 years ago.
Why are so many people working past the age of 65? The reasons vary. Some find a need to work for financial reasons. Others work for a desire of a particular lifestyle. Some have retired and find that is is not as idealistic as planned. Some desire activities of new social interaction.
The Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind, made a great success as an operatic singer, and money poured into her purse. Yet she left the stage when singing her best and never went back to it. She must have missed the money, the fame, and the applause of thousands, but she was content to retire and live in privacy.
Once an English friend found her sitting on the steps of a bath house on the sea sands with a bible on her knee, looking out into the glory of the sunset.
They talked and the conversation drew to the inevitable question. "Oh Madame Goldschmidt (her real name), how is it that you came to abandon the stage at the very height of your success?"
"When everyday", was the quiet answer, "it made me think less of this (laying a finger on her bible) and nothing at all of that (pointing to the sunset), what else could I do?"
Yes. there are reasons to retire but there are compelling reasons to keep working. It's an individual thing. Me? I loved working as long as I was able.
Some people really look forward to retirement. That's fine. They want to pursue other interests and adjust their lifestyle. Others, like me, would prefer to stay in the workforce for a variety of reasons.
If you look in Funk and Wagnall's Standard Dictionary you will read:
Retirement: "The act of retreating, a secluded place, an act of retiring."
Retire: "to go away or withdraw. to withdraw oneself from business, public life, or active service."
Retired: "Withdrawn from public view. Solitary. Secluded.
Retiring: "Shy. Modest. Reserved. Unobtrusive.
I don't really fit those definitions.
When the retirement age and Social Security established the age of 65 as the retirement age, you must remember in 1933 that was the life expectancy of a male human. Things have changed. People are living longer and healthier than 80 years ago.
Why are so many people working past the age of 65? The reasons vary. Some find a need to work for financial reasons. Others work for a desire of a particular lifestyle. Some have retired and find that is is not as idealistic as planned. Some desire activities of new social interaction.
The Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind, made a great success as an operatic singer, and money poured into her purse. Yet she left the stage when singing her best and never went back to it. She must have missed the money, the fame, and the applause of thousands, but she was content to retire and live in privacy.
Once an English friend found her sitting on the steps of a bath house on the sea sands with a bible on her knee, looking out into the glory of the sunset.
They talked and the conversation drew to the inevitable question. "Oh Madame Goldschmidt (her real name), how is it that you came to abandon the stage at the very height of your success?"
"When everyday", was the quiet answer, "it made me think less of this (laying a finger on her bible) and nothing at all of that (pointing to the sunset), what else could I do?"
Yes. there are reasons to retire but there are compelling reasons to keep working. It's an individual thing. Me? I loved working as long as I was able.
Friday, October 7, 2011
STEVE JOBS
My Hero Steve JobsA few excerpts from a speech he gave at Stanford University commencement in 2005 is appropriate to this blog.
"My third story is about death. When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like this, "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment of failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."
Great words from a great man.
Monday, October 3, 2011
YOU'RE A GEEZER IF...
You remember when GAY meant happy and joyful.
You remember when WEED was something you pulled from your garden.
When people wore THONGS on their feet (Gasp).
When there were TELEPHONE BOOTHS on every corner.
When people didn't TWEET, but tooted quite a bit.
When you would CHOKE and CRANK your car to get it started.
When people HITCH-HIKED to get a ride.
You remember what a 45 RPM, 33 1/3 and 78 records were.
Oh, and an "8 Track".
You remember the first time you saw a "wireless" telephone. It was the size of a brick.
On Saturday morning, you could go to the movie house and see a serial, three cartoons, a double feature and get a gift of a "Big-Little Book" for a dime.
An "ICE BOX" was indeed just that and the iceman came every other day with two big blocks.
You never went to bed at night without first bringing in TWO BUCKETS AND A LUMP of coal to bank the stove for the next day. Oh, and don't forget to take out the ashes and clinkers.
Five and Dime stores were in every town. Kresse's. Woolworth. W.T.Grant.
Soda fountains were very popular and Lemon Phosphates, Iron Port and Lime Rickeys were the most popular drinks.
I could go on and on. Most of you.. maybe all of you... have no idea what I'm talking about. Oh well. I'm a true geezer and not many of us geezers "BLOG." ("Blog" isn't even listed in my Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary.)
You remember when WEED was something you pulled from your garden.
When people wore THONGS on their feet (Gasp).
When there were TELEPHONE BOOTHS on every corner.
When people didn't TWEET, but tooted quite a bit.
When you would CHOKE and CRANK your car to get it started.
When people HITCH-HIKED to get a ride.
You remember what a 45 RPM, 33 1/3 and 78 records were.
Oh, and an "8 Track".
You remember the first time you saw a "wireless" telephone. It was the size of a brick.
On Saturday morning, you could go to the movie house and see a serial, three cartoons, a double feature and get a gift of a "Big-Little Book" for a dime.
An "ICE BOX" was indeed just that and the iceman came every other day with two big blocks.
You never went to bed at night without first bringing in TWO BUCKETS AND A LUMP of coal to bank the stove for the next day. Oh, and don't forget to take out the ashes and clinkers.
Five and Dime stores were in every town. Kresse's. Woolworth. W.T.Grant.
Soda fountains were very popular and Lemon Phosphates, Iron Port and Lime Rickeys were the most popular drinks.
I could go on and on. Most of you.. maybe all of you... have no idea what I'm talking about. Oh well. I'm a true geezer and not many of us geezers "BLOG." ("Blog" isn't even listed in my Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary.)
Sunday, October 2, 2011
LESSONS LEARNED
When people see me and ask the question, "Fred, how are you?" I usually respond by saying, "I'm below average but above ground."
I know many people have been concerned about my well being. I appreciate that. However, I don't want speculation about my health and worry about my life. My pancreatic cancer and the later bowel resection surgery were very serious and my prognosis dire. But... I'm doing fine. During my regular check up, my doctor said, "You look good." "Thank you," I said. "You shouldn't," was his reply. "How do you feel?" he asked. "I feel good," I responded. "You shouldn't," he said. Well, I don't know how I look but I know how I feel and whether I SHOULD look good or feel good is immaterial. The thing is, I feel good and that's all that matters.
My birthday on September 29th, was a great day. It marked another year. I figure I have been alive for 673,920 hours. I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat ice cream every single day!
I know many people have been concerned about my well being. I appreciate that. However, I don't want speculation about my health and worry about my life. My pancreatic cancer and the later bowel resection surgery were very serious and my prognosis dire. But... I'm doing fine. During my regular check up, my doctor said, "You look good." "Thank you," I said. "You shouldn't," was his reply. "How do you feel?" he asked. "I feel good," I responded. "You shouldn't," he said. Well, I don't know how I look but I know how I feel and whether I SHOULD look good or feel good is immaterial. The thing is, I feel good and that's all that matters.
My birthday on September 29th, was a great day. It marked another year. I figure I have been alive for 673,920 hours. I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat ice cream every single day!
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