The answers to the questions on the previous post: General Order #11 was written and delivered by General John A. Logan on the first Decoration Day at Woodlawn Cemetery in Carbondale, Il. After watching a widow place flowers on a soldier's grave, General Logan wrote the order describing how the holiday should be executed and the day it would be held. Later the holiday became known as Memorial Day. Reverence please.
I promise we will finish my saga and then I can explain my purpose for writing this blog and finally get started on the fun stuff! (At least for me!)
I had used my DSLR to record the seasons and beauty of Southern Illinois University. But I wasn't expecting added dividends along the way. Challenges to myself, reaching out of my comfort zone. One challenge was to record my day from the time I stepped out of my car at work to the end of the day. It started with a hickory tree in front of my car. The nuts were so interesting, gathered together among golden brown leaves. Then I noticed the sunlight through the yellow leaves in a small woods beside the parking lot. I crossed the street to a small group of trees beside Campus Lake. A small flock of ducks were gathered at the edge of cat tails along the edge of the water. (Note to self: Come back at lunch and take images of the fluffy heads of the cat tails.) So on to work I went. I imaged the Chinese Maple tree at the entrance of the Student Center. Down the stairs to the basement/Craft Shop, but wait, had I ever noticed the light casting shadows on Ron's statue? I took an image of the sign going into the Craft Shop, full of color. Back up the stairs I noticed sunlight casting shadows on the wares in the Art Arcade. The camera is clicking the whole time. Down the hallway to take an image of John at the register. (He's always smiling.) Then on to Starbucks, one of the best times of my day! The staff is always smiling in the mornings, great way to start the day. Have to get an image of one of my favorite brownie. (Have to have one every morning!) Then an image of the table in Starbucks where I drink my coffee and read Joel Olsteen's "Every Day is a Friday". Now remember this because it will be important later. Now upstairs to walk the hall, I pass the art work down Art Alley and find an exhibit on coiled pottery. The creator is very talented and the works are interesting. The challenge is imaging through the glass! On down the hall for images of Rosie, Carolyn, and Lisa. When I finished it is time to start work. I've already taken 300 images and it's only 8:00! (Hopefully I can show some images in a few weeks!)
Back downstairs I image my desk and some of the unusual artwork hanging from pipes, and on shelves around my work area. I have items around my desk students and customers gave me. I work until Ron comes in. (He is my supervisor.) I mentioned my project for the day and he immediately grabs his Mr. Paintbrush hat. Yes, it is a paintbrush!
The day goes on and I take images of my student employees and customers. Finally it is time to go home and I notice the difference in the light coming through from the opposite window at the landing on the stairs. Walking back to the car I image the sun coming through the dogwood tree casting shadows on the sidewalk. Finally back at home, I image my house and the lawn chair I will sit in with a book and a beverage. Winter is coming, you can feel it in the air. I image the gardens around my house. The daisies, black-eyed susans, sunflowers, and bee balm are full of their last blossoms.
The challenge is met, I have found myself in interesting lighting situations. I've learned to be more aware of my surrounding throughout the day. This experience lead into other challenges in winter and spring. I took images of the most minute things, things I would not even notice. I started appreciating the "everyday" miracles of my life!
On to the real miracle of my life. In March of this year Ron is listening to a webinar about retirement. I am not really paying attention because I do not intend to retire for another 3 to 4 years. At the end of it Ron suggests I look into the situation. Yeah! Sure! Well over the course of the next few weeks my life changes. I stated miracle because it happened so fast! I make the last appointment for SURS, I make the last appointment for HR. But the best part is when I found out I will only be making a little less than I did working and the money I will receive will pay for some bills!! But this is moving too fast! I am not ready! Anxiety sets in, what will I do!? Finally I pray, I mean serious praying! The boo hoo type! The next day I received a call from SURS, all questions answered. In 2 weeks I will be retired a full month in a half earlier than the others plan to leave.
So a couple of days before I leave in my book, "Every Day is a Friday", is a Post-it note in Ron's handwriting. "Just remember when you retire, Every Day is a Saturday." I've had to repeat the phrase to myself over and over. I still can't believe it happened. Without Ron's insistence to follow up on the webinar, without receiving those last appointments, and without the reassuring phone call from SURS none of this miracle would have occurred. God does indeed answer pray and it is in his time!! Amen and Amen!!!
I had set objectives for after I retired, rules if you wish. You have to realize for the last 61 years of my life I have had alarm clocks set, and time frames to keep. I had to go to daycare, grade school, high school, college, work, etc. All of a sudden, quite literally everything I had known was about to change. I didn't know if I liked the idea of giving up control. So of course I had to set up some controls of my own!! So here are some of my rules for retirement:
1. Be brave, look outside the box and my comfort zone.
2. Accept all invitations to go anywhere. (Dishes to do and my friend says want to go shopping, I have all the time in the world to do dishes!)
3. Limits per day - 1 hour to clean house, work out, and garden. (Gardening can sometimes be classified as fun.)
4. Restrict computer time to 1 hour. (I love Pinterest, so if I didn't watch myself I can be on the computer for hours.)
5. Spend as much time as I can outside. (For the past 7 years I worked in a basement, no windows!)
6. One photo challenge a week or time spent out in the field.
7. Slow mornings. Set alarm for 7:00 to enjoy mornings. (Of course before retirement, I would force myself to get up at 6:30 and now I wake up at 5:45!!!)
8. Read more. (I've already finished a novel and 1/2 way through another.)
9. When people are apologizing for taking up my time, simply say "I have all the time in the world."
10. Start a blog and post once a week.
11. Work on nagging chores a little each day. (Before I would procrastinate, now I try to work on something bothering me at the moment.)
12. Rounding out #11 with "There is always tomorrow!"
13. Try to find God's purpose for my early retirement.
14. I don't have to be busy every moment.
15. Enjoy my family and friends more and become involved in activities I didn't think I had time for before.
16. Can I enjoy retirement without world travel and lots of money????
17. Take classes. (The one perk to being over 60 is free tuition.)
18. When I get anxious repeat "Every Day is a Saturday".
The first few weeks after I retired just didn't seem real. I still had unfinished business and spent 3 days at work the first week! 2 weeks after retirement I received a new car from a "friend". My perspective changed. Which then begins my reasoning for my blog. There isn't a manual for retirement! How to spend your days/nights? I sure hadn't planned for any of this so soon. So where do I go now?
So Now Dear Readers, we are in the NOW! (Aren't you glad we are in the Now, I am!) Finally, a new stage in my life! I want to enjoy it! Appreciate it with every sense in my body!
Soooo my challenge to you is suggestions for inexpensive or free ways to enjoy life!!!! By the way, if you haven't read "Every Day is a Friday" I suggest reading it a little bit every morning! It kick started many of my mornings and put me in the right frame of mind.
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