“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
Last night was put an afghan on the bed and close the windows cold. It was a delight. I slept soundly and late, didn’t wake up until 9:30. My mother would have said I must have needed the sleep. I watched the Sox and Yankees until 11:30 then read for an hour. Fern and Gracie stayed close to me in bed. They must have been chilly.
Today is a beautiful day with a feeling of fall about it. The sunlight is sharp and warm, but it drifts in and out of clouds. Fern is stretched in the sun by the front door.
It is so quiet here. The kids are all in school, not a single lawnmower can be heard, the house next door is empty for the season and I don’t think I’ve even heard a car go up the busy street at the end of my road. I like the silence.
My life has been amazing and now and then I think about it and give thanks. The other day I talked to Grace in Accra for a long time and last week I called Rose Atiah in Bolga. I just picked up the phone, called Ghana and spoke to students I taught in 1969. It is still a little mind-boggling to me that I actually lived in Africa for a little over two years. Who gets that lucky? I worked for 35 years doing something I loved. Granted, I still groaned when the alarm went off at 5, but I never really minded going to work. I never considered it a grind. Every day was somehow different despite the sameness of the tasks. I got to retire early, nine years ago, and I love every day and am seldom bored. I can to sit outside on the deck in the morning with my papers and coffee and linger as long as I want. Who gets that lucky? I have traveled many places in the world and have seen the most glorious sights, pages of my geography books come to life. I dreamed I would travel, and my dreams came true just like in a Disney movie. Cinderella went to the ball. I went to Machu Picchu.
I have one errand left over from yesterday’s long list, but there’s no big hurry. I have all day.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: Africa, cold night, Dreams, early retirement, every day is mine, fall day, Ghana, lucky life, quiet day, sharp sunlight, students, sun, travel
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
September 6, 2013 at 12:41 pm
Yes You have been very lucky, well I doubt luck has anything to do with it really. Perhaps the Africa bit, the rest You have worked hard for to get. Most people never even come close to do what they want in life to be honest.
My old boys have their birthday today, ten years ago they were born at the animal hospital in Jönköping, their mother almost died and four of their iblings did. Hector celebrated this day by making sure a biker fell of his bike (the forest owners son in law, not the right person to do something like that to 🙂 ) and then I yelled atb him and now none of them will be allowed to walk without a leash when there’s a risk we’ll meet anyone. But I’m the only one awake in early morning so those hours they will be allowed to walk like normal 🙂 But they did get some treats too and will get more later today 🙂
Summer warm here and it will stay like that all weekend but autumn will arrive on Monday. A much needed rain will escort it so I guess there’s a risk the grass will start growing again 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
September 6, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Christer,
I guess that’s why I consider myself lucky: so many of my dreams came true. I was fearless at times as a kid, and that must have carried over into the choices I made.
Happy Birthday, Boys!!! May you have the best of treats today!!
I can feel autumn. Even though the sun is shining, the summer warmth is gone. The sun is weakening as we head to the new season.
Have a wonderful evening!! Give the boys a hug for me and Gracie!!
September 6, 2013 at 1:00 pm
I will 🙂
September 6, 2013 at 2:42 pm
That’s why I love radio, and enjoy being a reporter and a writer…every day is different. You never know how the day will unfold…
I spent some time as a file clerk for the US Army. I did the same thing every day and HATED it. All my pals in college radio were getting jobs locally (yes, Virginia. that did happen back in the day) and I wondered if I would ever get my shot. It did not help that my supervisor was on the verge of retiring and getting his pension…all he did all day was stare out the window.
They got rid of me after my 90 day probation, and I literally jumped for joy on my last day out the door. If I had stayed I would’ve had a lovely package upon retiring…but I would’ve been miserable.
Not long after I got my first job in radio and never looked back. I am rich in friends and experiences – – not in money.
Do what ya love and good stuff follows…
Waving from Jersey…
Coleen
September 6, 2013 at 4:48 pm
Hi Coleen,
That makes work so much fun. Calling it work seems somehow wrong!
I can only imagine how tedious doing the same thing every day must be. The occasional fight or screaming adolescent always brightened my assistant principal day. I don’t think I would have lasted 90 days. You did well!
I am rich in the same way though I do dream every now and then about having enough money to travel. I wouldn’t be greedy.
Waving back from lovely Cape Cod!
September 6, 2013 at 3:43 pm
The World Cup 2014
Ghana have beaten Zambia 2-1 this evening to finish top of Group D and qualify for the final round of African World Cup qualifying play-offs. They join Algeria, Egypt and Ivory Coast in the play-offs. Five more places settled tomorrow and final spot decided on Sunday…
September 6, 2013 at 4:50 pm
My Dear Hedley,
Ghana has a great history in Word Cup competition.My brother-in-law called and wanted to know where my allegiance was when the US played Ghana. The US lost.
September 6, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Michael Essien was played as a holding midfield player by Chelsea but was allowed to go box to box by the Black Stars and was sensational.
England v USA is always interesting. The old country trashed Modova this afternoon and the new country has a biggun tonight in Costa Rica
September 6, 2013 at 5:28 pm
MDH,
My Colorado family has been waiting for World Cup action. They watch everything they can and have my nephew and his family over if the US plays on the weekends.
They’ll be watching tonight
September 6, 2013 at 5:08 pm
Hi Kat,
You are fortunate indeed. 🙂
I think I am, too, which is always a plus.
It was cold here last night. It’s on the warm side of cool here today. The lawn guys came, looked at the lack of growth since last week and left without mowing anything. The grass has not really recovered from the long dry spell we just had.
I planned on doing some errands but never got farther than walking Rocky around the block. I fell into a book and couldn’t get out. 🙂
Enjoy the day.
September 6, 2013 at 5:15 pm
Hi Caryn,
I am in shock. I just got back from Agway where I bought 15 or 16 cans of dog food, 4 chews and two bags of lamb treats; everything is Merrick, an all natural dog food. The bill was $92.00.
It is 64˚ now and supposed to get chillier. I keep the back door open so Gracie can come and go-it is cold because of that.
I deserve an award as I did so many errands yesterday and the dog food run today.
I am glad you too are fortunate!!
September 7, 2013 at 8:15 am
Merrick is expensive but $92.00?!?
That sounds like you bought 50 pound bags of treats.
September 7, 2013 at 10:54 am
Caryn,
I decided to feed Gracie only natural foods. Shauna and Maggie, both Boxers, were 8 when they died. Gracie will be in 8 in November. I am nervous about her though she is smaller than the other two and far more active.
September 6, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Indeed you are a very lucky person. I also feel very lucky that I have worked in the profession I chose since 1975 and I have a job that I love. I will celebrate 23 years with the same company this month on the 24th.
For me retiring completely is probably out of the question since I still have a 16 year old son who is in college. You are very lucky to have a defined benefit retirement plan. Those things are as scarce as hen’s teeth these days. Probably I will have to work part time for the rest of my life. The thought of spending every day at home with my wife would be the harborer of a messy and expensive divorce. I don’t want to wind up in my old age living in a cardboard refrigerator box under a freeway bridge. Sometimes it’s cheaper to keep her 🙂
I have done some traveling and discovered that all human beings are pretty much the same and they all want the same things for their families. Besides health and happiness they want a house, a car and to go on vacation. We are much more similar than we are different.
Autumn must be right around the corner here because the high temperature for the day was a couple of degrees below 100.
September 6, 2013 at 9:05 pm
Bob,
I know how much you love your job. I can tell when I read your comments. It comes through clearly.
I had set out to have my house paid for before I retired, but I retired 7 years earlier than I expected, but I had been paying extra on the principle so it was paid for two years after I’d retired. When I first bought the house, the mortgage was half my monthly salary. That was scary. Now, though, the house is mine.
I love the sights, smells and sounds when I travel, and I love trying new foods. I like to get off the beaten path, away from where most tourists choose to visit.
I have my windows closed as it is cold but warmer, even hot, weather is on the way.
September 7, 2013 at 11:04 am
The wonderful thing about paying off your house is that you can sell it when you need to move into an assisted living facility and use the profits you made, hopefully, to support you in a nice place for the rest of your life.
September 7, 2013 at 11:41 am
Bob,
I’m hoping I stay pretty mobile for a long time. My neighbors are in their late 70’s, and they do just fine. I’d be happy with that.