Yesterday, I nerded out in the Back to School section of Walmart. Among other things, I bought an assortment Composition Books, in an array colors, for fifty cents each. (I use them for writing, everything goes on paper first.) I had a great time walking up and down the aisles looking at pens, pencils, markers, folders, binders, glue, staplers, and calculators. Calculators? Gee, we never got to use calculators in school, it was strictly fingers and toes for me. I wasn’t the only one perusing the merchandise. Much to one mans chagrin, his wife was selecting plastic divider boxes to organize and color code his tackle box. I’m not sure how long I spent wandering the aisles, but I definitely lost track of time. Stationary stores, book stores/library, hardware stores, and garden centers are places where I seem to fall into some sort of time warp.
When I was growing up, buying Back to School stuff was the precursor to a rite of passage. Graduating from pencils to pens, wide ruled to college ruled paper, crayons to perfumes (thank you, Petula Clark) meant we had advanced to the next level. Dressed in our new clothes and armed with our school supplies, we were prepared to march into the next stage of our young lives with confidence.
Stepping into Phase Three of life is also a rite of passage. In preparation, (besides buying Composition Books) I’ve been scheduling doctors appointments, visiting the Social Security office, studying Medicare, working on my budget, looking into local colleges for classes (writing and photography), getting sucked into the vortex that is Pinterest while looking at gardening ideas, gathering supplies needed to build my raised garden bed, and hauling wood for the winter months, trying to get all my ducks in a row.

Like herding cats
At work, I’ve been deleting old emails and files, clearing personal stuff out of my cubicle and bringing it home. Maybe this seems a bit premature, but I’m excited and anxious to start my new life. I am looking forward to stepping into the future prepared, knowing I will be able to handle each new opportunity (even life’s problems create opportunities) this crazy thing we call life brings me.
Onward!
When does this retirement happen? We will be visiting march 30-April 6 2018! See you then!
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Hi Sarah
My retirement date is actually end of December, but I will actually be leaving middle of December. I will see you end of March. Yeah!!!
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My retirement was just before Christmas in 2014. I did much of the same things you are doing, deleting files, taking random things home or tossing them. It’s a process! Enjoy this ride!
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I am soooo enjoying the ride. It’s so freeing. I can hardly contain myself.
Happy Windsurfing!!!
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Laura, I’m so glad you are considering taking writing classes. You are a beautiful writer, I don’t even think you need classes. You just have the gift! I love reading what you write.
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Hey Sheila. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I appreciate it. It’s so good to hear from you. We are going to have to figure out how we can get together.
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We would be very dangerous together at Walmart!
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Don’t you know it. See you soon. Hey did you like my picture of Momma Duck and her babies?
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So happy to run into you at OSH…enjoying your gift of prose and insights. Congratulations on the upcoming new life chapter and as always, really appreciated the time we worked together!k
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So happy to have seen you too. Thank you for your support in both the past and the present, and for remembering where to find me.
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I’m glad I’m not the only person who geeks out during the back to school craze! It makes me feel like I’m really cheating the system getting notebooks for a few pennies.
The count down is really on, you have every reason to be excited. You’ve worked so hard for this moment and time in your life…DO IT ALL…do everything you’ve ever wanted to do and enjoy the heck out of it. Enjoy every earned second of it. I love you!
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Yes, I am very excited. Only 65 actual working days left. Thanks, Love you too
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