This is a bonus post, in addition to the one about surviving domestic abuse as a child. I wake up every morning feeling lucky, now that I’m retired. Well, actually, I’m fully engaged in my Now-Career, which involves writing, speaking, blogging and teaching, but it’s a choice rather than a necessity, and I can make my own hours. So I still call myself retired. But anyway…
Because of certain aspects of my history, and certain health issues, such as a cyst on my eye, I am forced to meditate and relax on a regular basis. One way to do this is to swim. Another is to put a warm compress on my eye and lie on the sofa for ten minutes, twice daily. It’s actually quite restful.
I think we are now doing repair after having been middle-aged and working so hard. Our tendency is to continue this pace due to habit and maybe even guilt. My friends and I tend to fill up our time but there isn’t any need, so why not rethink that? Although I happen to believe that pursuing a dream, which for me is writing, falls under the heading of damage repair or resting.
Just remember, if you have money or time, you tend to spend it all. In my humble opinion. So be on guard against that.
And now, to prove I do have a domestic side, here is my recipe for Gazpacho Soup. A great way to use up leftover veggies. The secret is to add catsup, and if it seems a bit bland after completion, that’s by design, because you never know how the veggies will flavor it. So thrown in some more garlic salt, or Lawry’s Seasoning Salt, or whatever you think it needs.
I read all your last posts about domestic abuse and its consequences. You were brave to write about it and be so honest about your feelings. It is hard for me to write like this on my blog. I am pleased that you are feeling much better by now. I, sometimes, feel that I should not be so happy most of the time. I do get blue, but it is when I miss my hometown (Paris) and my language (French) but it passes. I think I should not be so happy since my husband has Alzheimer; we have no friends near us or family and are quite isolated. I have to be with him 24/7 and it does get frustrating. But despite all this I am very happy and as I say I think I should not be, but I can’t help it. I am just happy to live I guess. In a way I feel like I was born under a lucky star – maybe I don’t think hard enough…
Vagabonde, your happiness is a blessing, a gift from God or the cosmos or whatever. To think any harder about it would be foolish. You are in a tough spot; if you’re not flattened by it, so much the better. I celebrate your good fortune in that regard. I am sorry about your husband’s situation – he is very blessed to have you. My best wishes.
I have an organic garden (love it) and gazpacho is such a wonderful way to use up those peppers, cucumbers, onions and tomatoes. I love cilantro too. In mine I put half V-8 and half tomato juice… along with a few squirts of Tabasco sauce. Like you, i do not put in Cuisinart like some people, i love the robust chunkiness.
But what i really want to say is i like you addressing the concept of working so hard and using ourselves up constantly, now that we are “retired,” and it is perfectly wonderful to be a human being instead of always a human doing.
Walking in the autumn and looking at the trees could captivate me for hours and that makes me supremely happy.
your fan,
Heather
I love the picture you paint, Heather, of walking and looking at trees. I also enjoyed knowing we share a love of gazpacho, and thanks for the idea of not being a “human doing.” I’m constantly having to dial myself back. I crave downtime, yet I rush to fill everything up. Such a lemming.
Your fan back.
Soup sounds yummy. Works for me as i hate to cook and it looks easy. Will work for my Vegetarian Hubs too!
Cheryl, it’s such a winner. Pure veggies in a tasty cold soup. Very healthful.
My plan is to go from active to dead. If I disappear suddenly without report of death it is because I heard some relative whisper nursing home.
Oh, Bob, you crack me up! Thanks for the laugh.
Lynne, I like you, just tell people I am retired rather than going into my retirement job. I don’t consider it a “job”.