A year in review
Most of us take the time to look over the past year every last week of December. I do this to try and understand where I have been, and hopefully, where I am going in the new year. Quality Control is a big deal for me because I’m a goal setter. I believe in specific, attainable goals. July 31st is a day of reckoning.
On July 31st, 2008 I retired. I had a bunch of things that I wanted to accomplish in my first year of retirement and I think I did okay. The house in Port Angeles was new (built in 2006) so most of the first year had to do with putting in the yards. The backyard alone took 35 yards of cement, yes, that’s 5 trucks, and it was quite a project. I ended up having to take down my gazebo and cut down 160 squre feet of deck because I failed to check with our Homeowners’ Association before I hired a work crew. That cost me a couple of thousand bucks due to my arrogance/stupidity. Well, the yards are in (you don’t want to know the pricetag) and it all looks great.
Digging the trenches for the sprinklers cost me some time and pain. I hurt my shoulder swinging that pick ax and ended up in physical therapy. The sprinklers turned out fine and are a constant reminder that old guys and manual labor are sometimes not the best mix.
I go to the YMCA now and lift weights for my shoulder. I’ve met some neat folks and have got a good solid routine for exercise. I’ve lost 55 pounds since I retired and I want to lose 25 more. That’s another goal. Inch by inch anything’s a cinch. I need to plug WeightWatchers here because without the support from the people at our weekly meetings it would be a tough road. Annie has lost 62 pounds and is looking and feeling great. She wants to shed some more but talking about a woman’s weight can be hazerdous to one’s health so let’s move on.
We got involved at a local church and are starting our Covenant Divorce Recovery group in the Fall. I teach an adult Sunday School class with 70 members so it is no small responsibility. We hope to also start a home group in January. We didn’t retire from serving God…we can rest when we get to heaven.
Lilah was born in April and my granddaughter is the sweetest little gal in the world. Talon, my grandson, is a bundle of energy and at 21 months of age likes to headbutt grandpa! That boy is a linebacker in progress! We loved seeing them in May (on a huge road trip that took us through Idaho, Montana, Yellowstone,Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. I tell you we need to scale back!
I’ve heard from many old friends. My buddy, Bill Galarneau, was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident in May. I think about him a lot and pray for his widow, Mary. Bill and I were stationed in the Air Force together in Columbus, Ohio in the late seventies. We later worked together at Los Angeles Center. I heard from my old friend, Rodney Lewis, last week. All is well with the “Nieshy-man”, as we call him, and he is enjoying retirement. I got calls from two of my friends from kindegarten last week on my 51st birthday. Bruce Grave and Pat Egan have been my amigos for 46 years. Strange how the time seems to pass so quickly.
Financially, we are doing fine. Retirement is about living on what you get and have. We did get to travel a bit and our goal in the next couple of years is an extended trip to Ireland.
The books are getting published. Specter of an Accident will be mailed to me in a matter of days. It was a blast reading over the drafts and making corrections. Annie has become quite the proofreader! I hope to be working on my next novel in a month or so. It is written except for the last three chapters.
My dad and his girlfriend, Mary, will be here next month. It will be great to see the old guy. He is 81 and still runs marathons and works trail. Mary is active and keeps Marv on his toes. We plan to show them a good time Port Angeles style!
So there is my year. I have to admit that I’m pretty pleased. I praise the Lord for the blessings in my life. Like the saying goes, “It’s all good!” I’m looking forward to another super year. Not that I’m counting on tomorrow. I’m living in the moment as I think about a year in review. And what a moment it is!