It started with a truly great party on Saturday, 1/14, thrown by the best boss I've ever had, Jeff. It wasn't as well attended as we thought, because there was a monster ice storm/deep freeze/snowpocalypse in Portland. But a good number of dear friends struggled in, and I felt all the warmth of their friendship. And scotch. Can't forget the scotch!
On Monday, I entered into what may be an endless, ongoing ground war with Medicare. I haven't prevailed, but there appears to be a chance that all will be well. Maybe.
The first week (1/15-21) was housekeeping: a mammogram, a doctor visit, two trips to the dentist. For fun, there was Theology Pub, where we had as a guest a woman who had assisted with the translation of the Bible into the Hawaiian pidgin language. The week was topped by brunch at Salty's with Teddie and Martin, where we drank prodigious amounts of mimosas and enjoyed some wonderful food and conversation.
The second week (1/22-28) began with us hosting coffee hour at church. One of my favorite things is feeding people! More medical followed during the week: the eye doctor, this time. And Steve and I began the delicate negotiations around space, time and chores. (This was also my week of Twitter & Facebook political hysteria.) Then Steve fell ill, so some of my outside activities were constrained; he needed my help. But he was well enough by Friday that I could go host the car campers at our church, St. Anne's in Washougal (stanneswa.wixsite.com/stanneswa). We open the church's fellowship hall every day for 2 hours, so our guests can come in, wash up, cook dinner and socialize. We have 2 or 3 car campers and 3 tiny houses ("homies") on our property. Steve and I will share hosting most Friday evenings.
Now, in the third week (1/29-2/4), I have begun living my true life. I started going to a book group, where we're reading 1984, and I began attending a writing class, "Writing from the Heart." And I've returned to this blog. I've also recognized how important homelessness is to me; it seems to rise to the surface every day, in one way or another. I may have found my "cause."
The book group, the writing class and the car camping program are all connected to my church, but are not "religious" activities. If you are unchurched because church has nothing to offer you, you may want to reconsider. Yes, some of these obligations are a pain in the ass; but many feed my spirit in vital ways, ways I couldn't easily access without the benefit of congregation.
So that's how retirement goes: like any new venture, good days and bad; idle days and busy days; active days and days for introspection.
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