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Episode 709 Rejoice: 2020 Ends
This is Retirement Talk. I’m Del Lowery.
It is the end of the year, the year 2020. What a year it has been. What are we retired folks talking about? Well, we talk about the passing year more than we ever have in our lives. This has been something special. I have been encouraged to record my holiday letter as a podcast this week. So...
It has been a bad year for us. I would like to tell you of all the fun travels and achievements of ours and our family – but I can't. There has been a shield, a fog, a blanket over almost each and every day. Truth should not be sacrificed – even for the holidays.
We did have some good things happen: we learned how to get all of our groceries delivered to our doorstep or placed in the trunk of our car without going into any store. We did not have to go shopping. My brother tells me he can't wait to go shopping again, “I'm going to walk up and down every aisle in the store”.
We just watched my granddaughter's Christmas dance recital via Zoom. She was over a thousand miles away. We did not have to get in the car or an airplane. (We just had to figure out how to use Zoom).
We enjoyed a family reunion via Zoom for Thanksgiving. Daughter in California. Son in Alaska and us right in between. The Alaskans had to have their dinner in the carport in 27 degree weather because of Covid. Dinner lasted two hours.
Last January we flew to Green Valley just south of Tucson to spend a few months. In the middle of March, and the beginning of Covid19, we threw away our tickets home; rented a small SUV and drove home. Our flight ended up being canceled anyway. So no big loss there.
All this time we lived under a daily cloud of inept, irresponsible and mean-spirited national leadership. (I use the word leadership very loosely.) Don't get me wrong. To not agree with the country's leadership is a basic right. We, you and I don't have to like it. But this was different. People were dying and are still dying because of outdated beliefs. Science was being ignored. Waking to this world became a clouded task each and every day. It wasn't just the leadership but this denial of scientific facts by our fellow citizens that really left us depressed day after day. As a former teacher I was forced to ask myself where I had failed?
We grew older this year and aging eased into our life a bit more. Each day might make us a bit more aware of this muscle or that. What could that be? Fortunately for us we do believe in science. Our doctors and medical facilities came in handy a few times. No big deal but very nice to have access to people who are descendants of the cognitive revolution.
We ate well. We lunched regularly in the yard with a few friends. We biked, painted, practiced classical guitar, read great books, listened to podcasts and Brenda explored many new and exciting dishes in the kitchen. Life wasn't all bad. We practiced that old bit of wisdom to “Sit loose in the saddle and come to terms with the idea of change”.
May we all enjoy a better 2021.
This is Retirement Talk.
If you have questions, comments or stories to share contact del@retirementtalk.org
Episode 709 Rejoice: 2020 Ends
This is Retirement Talk. I’m Del Lowery.
It is the end of the year, the year 2020. What a year it has been. What are we retired folks talking about? Well, we talk about the passing year more than we ever have in our lives. This has been something special. I have been encouraged to record my holiday letter as a podcast this week. So...
It has been a bad year for us. I would like to tell you of all the fun travels and achievements of ours and our family – but I can't. There has been a shield, a fog, a blanket over almost each and every day. Truth should not be sacrificed – even for the holidays.
We did have some good things happen: we learned how to get all of our groceries delivered to our doorstep or placed in the trunk of our car without going into any store. We did not have to go shopping. My brother tells me he can't wait to go shopping again, “I'm going to walk up and down every aisle in the store”.
We just watched my granddaughter's Christmas dance recital via Zoom. She was over a thousand miles away. We did not have to get in the car or an airplane. (We just had to figure out how to use Zoom).
We enjoyed a family reunion via Zoom for Thanksgiving. Daughter in California. Son in Alaska and us right in between. The Alaskans had to have their dinner in the carport in 27 degree weather because of Covid. Dinner lasted two hours.
Last January we flew to Green Valley just south of Tucson to spend a few months. In the middle of March, and the beginning of Covid19, we threw away our tickets home; rented a small SUV and drove home. Our flight ended up being canceled anyway. So no big loss there.
All this time we lived under a daily cloud of inept, irresponsible and mean-spirited national leadership. (I use the word leadership very loosely.) Don't get me wrong. To not agree with the country's leadership is a basic right. We, you and I don't have to like it. But this was different. People were dying and are still dying because of outdated beliefs. Science was being ignored. Waking to this world became a clouded task each and every day. It wasn't just the leadership but this denial of scientific facts by our fellow citizens that really left us depressed day after day. As a former teacher I was forced to ask myself where I had failed?
We grew older this year and aging eased into our life a bit more. Each day might make us a bit more aware of this muscle or that. What could that be? Fortunately for us we do believe in science. Our doctors and medical facilities came in handy a few times. No big deal but very nice to have access to people who are descendants of the cognitive revolution.
We ate well. We lunched regularly in the yard with a few friends. We biked, painted, practiced classical guitar, read great books, listened to podcasts and Brenda explored many new and exciting dishes in the kitchen. Life wasn't all bad. We practiced that old bit of wisdom to “Sit loose in the saddle and come to terms with the idea of change”.
May we all enjoy a better 2021.
This is Retirement Talk.
If you have questions, comments or stories to share contact del@retirementtalk.org
A resource from a listener: Best Free Online Degrees for Seniors guide is designed to assist seniors who aspire to enhance their intellect or consider starting a new career path. It features an overview of the top online degrees for seniors, emphasizing their numerous advantages, and a broad range of subjects to choose from. A friend's website: Terra Firma Designs: Fine Furniture, Stained Glass and woodworking workshops. Copyright 2010 RetirementTalk.org |
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