Magic Moment–#4 Every Good Boy Does Fine

If you took a class in typing, not keyboarding, but typing you recognize the title of today’s post.  Class instruction to learn a typing skill included the repetition of the above phrase.  My father was a high school teacher and his primary class was typing.  He also taught a few classes in office machines and bookkeeping, but typing was his bread and butter.  He taught typing to high school students during the day, adults at night, and everyone else during summer school.  He managed and played cashier at the high school concession stand on the weekends and ran the “audio visual” during events in the auditorium. 

Obviously, my father was not a lazy man and he expected his children to work hard, too.  At the very young age of nine, I was required to attend summer school  with a minimum of three classes.  Two of the classes were always, always, typing and swimming.  You should know my fingers fly on the keyboard as I type this post.  It is as easy as breathing.  And I am a fish in the water.

You would think I would have been resentful spending my summers so structured.  I was not.  My classmates were older and I felt important.  And what a head start.  The skills I learned—hard work and typing served me well during my work years.  I worked a full-time secretarial job while I attended and finally completed college--never taking out a loan, never borrowing from the parents and living on my own. 

Really not magic, but a special privilege to have a father who taught me to be a strong, independent woman.  No, wait, maybe that is magic.  Thanks, Dad.  I love you and miss you.  You were an ornery old cuss, but I am grateful for the life lessons.

Magic Moment–#3 First Kiss

Each summer of my childhood and teenage years was spent visiting the forests and National Parks of Washington State.  The family had a travel trailer with sleeping arrangements for my parents, my two sisters and two brothers, but not me.  I slept in the back of the station wagon. 

I was in complete control of my “domain”.  If I was tired early, I could go to bed at any time.  If I wanted to sit out by the fire after everyone went to bed, I could.  No one knew.  The campgrounds were truly magical at night.  You could hear the nearby rushing river, engorged with water from the melting snow, animals out searching the sites for leftover crumbs from the human visitors.  The air is unbelievably fresh and loamy smelling especially in the dead of night.  Maybe I should have been afraid, but I was not.  A night-time kingdom all to myself.

My first kiss was experienced late one night on a camping trip.  Our family often vacationed with friends with kids our age and I became slightly obsessed with a young boy my age from one of the families.  His large family had the same sleeping arrangements and he slept in the back of their truck.  We met late at night, both nervous, and had that tentative quick, but passionate kiss.  That was it.  Just a kiss.  But, it was magical. 

Magic Moment–#2 Grandparents’ Memory Book

If you have grandparents and/or parents still living, please take the time to encourage them to record their memories.  One of the best moments in my life was to receive a book full of hand-written memoirs and photographs from my grandparents. 

One year I bought a hardback book filled with empty pages with a question or two on each page.  Each question prompting my grandparents to record a memory.  Unknown to me at the time was that my grandfather was dying of cancer.  During the year they spent each evening taking on a question and my grandmother wrote down everything they could remember about their childhood, their courting, marriage, children, loss of loved ones, and growing old.  I realized later my request was also a gift to them, helping them re-live their time together and recording such a very full life.  You can see from the few pages below how much time and care they took—pages and pages of wonderful magic moments.  My grandparents will always be special and most certainly never forgotten.

Magic Moments–#1 Unexpected Serenade

Preface.  One of the reasons I write a blog is to document an event and then revisit the post later on to remember and re-live that time and place.  Another is to pass along to you something we have learned along the way or share an experience that made me smile and may make you smile, too.    There are so many memories all through my life that have made me smile.  I do not want to forget them as I get older and sometimes it feels like they are slipping away.  So, every week this year there will be a post with a memory special to me.  I hope you enjoy them.

The most special moments are not always those visiting an exotic locale, but more to do with an appealing smell, a savory taste, a touch, a pleasing sound and sometimes a beautiful view.  This series is not in any kind of order.  Only what happens to jog my thoughts this week. 

#1 Unexpected Serenade. 

In the early 90’s we stayed at a Kihei condo on the Hawaiian island of Maui for our annual vacation.  Our condo complex included two sets of  buildings with 4 floors each—guessing a single building contained 40 condo units. Each building was positioned on a diagonal to give everyone a view of the ocean and beach.  The two buildings formed a V with the top end of the V on the water.   The resulting acoustics were very good, almost too loud if the neighbors decided to get noisy.

Sitting out on the lanai one evening we were enjoying an especially colorful sunset.  The ocean was illuminated with a sky full of pinks and yellows, the air was warm with the perfect amount of moisture and a hint of fragrant smells from tropical flowers.   And then someone begins playing a soulful trumpet.  Slow, clear notes of an old blues ballad.  No one makes a noise except the talented musician.  The music echoes, rolling off the amphitheater shape of our condos.  And just as the last light of the sun is extinguished in the sea, the song was complete and the music stopped.  We realized everyone in each condo was now out on their balcony to listen.  They all burst into applause yelling for more.  But, it was over as suddenly, and unexpectedly, as it began.

Magic.

New Directions in 2014

Since January 1, we have been overwhelmed with the care and training of a new family member.  A tiny Havanese puppy we named Heddie (short for Hedwig).  Her coloring is mainly chocolate with a chest and two front paws in white.  Lots of hair looking like a wavy mess even after brushing.  At just over 2-pounds and 14 weeks, she is full of energy and a handful! 

The Havanese are small with their adult weight around 10 pounds, no shedding, they adore people and are quick learners.  Our little girl fits the description and is proving to be smarter than her owners.  We taught her to ring a bell on the door to go outside for bathroom duties.  She has realized that ringing that bell gets our attention for anything.  Rather than barking , she rings the damn bell!

Besides filling our days with the new addition, we have a lot planned this year.  This blog is all about what we try out in our retirement and documenting what works for us and what does not.  We turn 60 this year and more than ever, realize that our lives have an expiration date.  In retirement we have the freedom to go in new directions and embrace change (you will figure out what I am alluding to in future posts).  And we plan to do just that.

Although a very important factor in retirement is financial planning, I believe a bigger consideration is what you plan to DO in retirement.  Once you retire it is easy to let each day come and go without much thought or purpose; but do not let it slip away.  Take charge and plan to fill your days with activities you always dreamed of doing, but never had the time.  You will be happier and more satisfied with your life.  How exciting!

No Waste Wednesday #42–Wrapping Up 2013

A long way, we have come.  Pleased with our progress to minimize our waste (our 2013 New Year’s resolution).  Lots of effective and easy habits.  Consistently, have 1/2 a garbage can full every other week.  There is more to be done, but all in all feel we are helping in our small way right now.

This accomplishment seems to only apply to our time spent in our home on the Olympic Peninsula.  When we travel, the ability to reduce waste becomes much, much more difficult.   The Peninsula businesses and services help residents A LOT by providing alternative packaging (none in some cases) and accessible recycling locations.  Other areas around the country—not so much.   Wish everyone would help and contribute.  It is NOT that hard.  Really.

The Olympic Peninsula is so spectacular; the vistas take my breath away every day.  Views over the water of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Vancouver Island, the dramatic Olympic Mountains, calming lavender fields and rushing rivers.  Why would we want to trash it up with our garbage?

As far as travel, you probably noticed a lack of posts on that subject.  We are rethinking our approach to travel and how to document our time away.  Will say more in a few days. 

Life is short.  Need to make the most of our time.  Time to move on and make adjustments.  Next year is a big one—turning 60, wedding anniversary of 40 years, an overseas trip, some more sister/mom time in the works, and maybe a new member of the family. 

Merry Christmas!  And a very, happy New Year!

No Waste Wednesday #41–Healthy Diet = Less Waste (and Less Waist)

Losing weight and exercise have eluded us for too long.  It is boring to write about the progress, so I did not and will not.  (This post is only in context to our zero waste goal.)  Hard work and determination.  Slowly making progress. Slowly.   When we reach our goal weight…perhaps…maybe…there will be a post to celebrate.  Then it is all about maintaining which sometimes is more difficult than losing (in my humble opinion).  Some lifestyle changes, for sure.

What is also rewarding about the process, besides losing weight,  is the reduced waste resulting from eating healthy.  Sticking to vegetables, fruits, and small amounts of protein results in less garbage (we are forsaking breads, crackers, starches in general, and sugar).   All that results are few meat wrappers, orange rinds, and cucumber peelings.   Another reason to stick to the new eating regime.

Not to mention a much reduced outflow of money.  Our monthly grocery spending is around $200 month now.  Not bad at all for us.  If I can start buying in season, the amount can probably be reduced even further. 

Hmmm, I think a new resolution is starting to gel for 2014.