We’re supposed to get a big rain storm starting tonight, so I tried to squeeze in a round of golf today. I violated my first rule, which is never play on the day after Christmas. You know, boys and their toys, testing out the new gear Santa brought them. Fathers with sons home for the holidays.
A happy Hallmark scene best avoided, in my humble opinion. I prefer slow days during the week with crusty old retirees like me dragging their clubs in worn-out push carts.
You might laugh at my other rule if you live in a truly cold climate or have been battling the bomb cyclone. I apologize in advance. I know your weather has been devastating.
If it’s in the 50s here in northern California, I wear three layers on the top and one layer on the bottom. 40s? I add long johns under my pants. It was in the low 40s today, but I skipped the extra layer on the bottom. I forgot I can’t hang in the cold like I used to. But yes, I’m playing golf in the winter.
I don’t think one more layer would have helped much, but it would have been something. It was so cold. I was shivering and literally couldn’t function. I quit on the 6th hole and actually even ran a little bit to my car. I couldn’t wait to blast the heat. My old lady fingers tingled as they warmed up.
Poor me, home again, safe and warm, back in my jammies waiting for the rain to start. For dinner, we’re having sandwiches with leftover Christmas roast beef. Yum.
You may have noticed I comment on the political scene from time to time. I try not to overdo it. But as I think about life, aging and what it’s like to not work anymore, I tell myself it’s critical to stay engaged in important topics of the day. I mean, it would be easy for us to slip away quietly. I do think we become much less visible without a job, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have our say.
So, today’s political mini-rant is Governor Abbott of Texas sending busloads of immigrants to Washington D.C. I understand we need to reform our immigration policies, but these people are not props. They are human beings, and it’s immoral to shuffle them around like excess inventory at the Amazon warehouse.
We lived in Texas and have many fond memories, but that guy is messed up. I know, there ain’t no shortage of messed up people in powerful positions. I have never understood the vicious things people do to other people. Or to animals, for that matter.
I’ve been retired more than five years, and for the first time, I received a holiday e-card from my old office. I don’t know how I got back on the list, but I was pleased to be included. That said, it did stir up some sad memories of a horrible job I had there that changed the whole trajectory of my career.
In the end, I came out better than good, but the experience left some scars. I’ve worked on forgiveness, and I definitely purged a lot of anger, but I wonder how long it takes to truly get that business out of one’s system?
Or maybe you don’t.
It occurred to me, I could begin to frame this old work experience the same way I did after being diagnosed with cancer twice. It was no one’s fault. I was unlucky to get it, but I was very lucky to survive it. I still think about cancer and the way it has changed my life. Not why me, but wow, that was interesting.
Maybe the best approach for life’s bummer events is: Don’t judge the feelings, just acknowledge them, accept them as part of life. Be grateful for the good stuff. I’m sure you had this figured out, but I’m late to the party.
All that said, I’m grateful for the opportunity to age, but I’m not nuts about the side effects, physical and emotional. However, I saw a picture of Harrison Ford, who is 80, and it at least made me feel better about looking old. He looks good. Like really good. He just happens to be old.
That’s kind of what I’m going for.
Well old friend, having also been raised by wolves and toting scars from work experiences at the same place of employment…I decided long ago to be thankful for the lessons I learned from those experiences, coworkers and bosses and for the friendships made (YOU). I will NEVER forget the 2-day offsite meeting where I was told, “The toilet in my room is not working properly, please see that it is fixed.” I did not receive an electronic Holiday card. 😂 Wishing you and Dale a wonderful 2023!
Ah, Janie, you made me cry. It’s great to hear from you, and it sounds like you’ve done a fine job of accepting some of life’s bummers. I remember when we had that whack job consultant, and she was going around the table asking each of us to talk about how we handled conflict in our families when we were growing up. Some of the others were waxing eloquently, but you are I were frozen, sitting there holding hands, dreading when it was our turn.
But here we are. Happy New Year!
Hi, Donna – I took the bait! I Googled a current picture of Harrison Ford. You’re right — he looks great (and just happens to be older). That’s what I’m going for as well.
Wishing you a very happy new year and wonderful rounds of golf.
BTW – It was 48F here today and I almost no one that I saw walking outdoors had jackets on. Vancouver Islanders consider that to be warm – very! 😀
I had a good laugh about the weather. I am such a baby about the cold.
Happy New Year!
“ I really am fine,” Humphrey said in the corridor. “I just got old by accident.”
― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
Amen to that. And don’t skip the long johns when it’s cold.
Yes, it does seem like an accident sometimes. And yes to the long johns.
Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful comments. I hope you have a great 2023.
My dad would say the side effects are too much for the advantage of aging. I hope I don’t experience that but we’re all bound to if we are lucky enough to grow old. I do want to focus on the good things. I’m trying but it’s tough some days.
I agree some parts of aging are difficult, but I still want to be among the lucky! I’m definitely going to quit worrying about how I look.
“We lived in Texas and have many fond memories, but that guy is messed up.” Ditto that! Happy New Year!
Yes, he needs to go. Happy New Year to you, too!
You and Janie reminded me of a similar experience with a consultant. While everyone else was telling their childhood tales, I was frantically creating an appropriate story that would be believeable. Yeah, I was raised by wolves, too, which does make for a tricky corporate life!
As for the weather, over Christmas week, we had 3-4 nights in the 2-4 degree range, with wind chills around -20. I hunkered down inside, monitoring my faucets to avoid frozen pipes, and streaming movies. All in all, not so bad (I was a fortunate one and did not lose power).
Happy New Year!
Nina
We should form a support group Adult Children Raised by Wolves (ACRW). But yes, it did make blending into the corporate scene a tad more challenging. I’m amazed I pulled it off.
As for your weather, ouch! Glad you had a warm fuzzy day inside. Happy New year!
I had to laugh about you breaking the rule not to golf on the day after Christmas( or any holiday). I decided to go down to the pool thinking, it could be empty or it could be really a madhouse. Well, guess who won? it was absolutely crazy with all the buff young men swimming 3 to a lane. I just sat an waited till a lane opened up with only one other swimmer. It was the swimmer I call the splasher. She’s a great swimmer but uses fins and snorkels and really beats the water. So I get going and then a dozen high school kids show up ( I’m guessing swim team). So they are standing at the end of my lane just waiting. So I’m saying to myself as I’m grumbling in the water , I’ll be done when I’m done. Well, anyway I did leave early after 35 minutes as I couldn’t take it anymore. Lesson learned I hope. I never had a job like yours as mostly I was self-employed. But I had a rough childhood and think the ghosts are often still hanging around. That said, getting old is a privilege, even if it’s tough to take. My sister, Heidi, 4 years older than me died last year right after New Years. It was sudden and I’m still processing it. Now I’m the oldest and it’s only me and my brother. Kinda weird.
Well, it was my turn to laugh about the splasher. There’s one guy who is often in the lane next to me, and I call him Flipper. The other thing is all the people who join the fitness club at the first of the year. Gotta wait for them to fizzle out.
You and I are especially lucky, having faced serious illness and still here to talk about it. So, yes, I guess we say hello to the ghosts from time to time.
Love this: “Don’t judge the feelings, just acknowledge them, accept them as part of life. Be grateful for the good stuff.” It’s still a mindset I’m working on – I tend to beat myself up for any negative feeling. Like that’s gonna help! Happy New Year to you.
Yes, this is a good one for all of us to work on. I think I picked up that acknowledge thing from yoga! Happy New Year to you, too.