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Topic: Empty Nester/Retirement (from work) (09/10/09)
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TITLE: Retire Or Not To Retire | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pam Cantrell
09/17/09 -
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Retirement, aha Joe couldn't wait. He had been waiting many
years for this moment. Joe was a 69 year old man, his gray hair
became him. He was in good health, watched what he ate, walked
a mile every day and working part time on the farm gave him lots of
exercise. One week to go till his retirement. Joe and his wife Sue
had plans to sell the farm and do some traveling, maybe even buy
a beach house.
Joe worked for the Feet and Me Shoe Company. It was a good
job; at least it paid the bills. After 40 years he needed a change
and his dreams were about to become true. All Joe's friends threw
him a retirement party. It was mid June and the weather was in
the 90's with a sticky humidity. There was tons of food, steaks,
hamburgers for the kids, cakes, cookies, ice cream. All the good
stuff your not really suppose to have. Just looking at it would
harden the arteries.
Joe's last day at work arrived with bitter sweet emotions. He was
glad to be free to do something he had dreamed of but would miss
the daily routine and the people he had worked with down through
the years. Good-byes are always hard.
Joe's first order of business was to sell the livestock and fix the
house of the small but needed repairs. Joe and Sue's anniversary was
coming up on July 7th and Joe wanted to do something special so he
bought a boat. Sue's eye's were bigger than saucers. You could
have set a teacup in them. "Why in Sam hill did you buy a boat,
neither one of us have ever been in one" said Sue. Joe just smiled
as always and said "Yes Dear".
Joe's brother Mike and his family came to visit. This was perfect, it
would give Joe a chance to try out and to show off his boat (sorry Sue's
boat). On the ride to the lake, instructions were given to the
children as to what to do and what not to do, as if they were listening.
Soon everyone was in the boat, life jackets on, fingers gripping the boat,
knuckles white and they were ready to roll. Joe started the boat and
slowly got her in the water. Not bad, not bad at all. Things were going
smoothly, then Sue decided she wanted to drive. Joe was a little
weary about that idea but since it was their anniversary why not.
Rule #1: Never let Sue drive a boat! It seemed easy at first. She
was going nice and slow. Just then one of Mike's kids yelled "Mom".
Sue looked behind her to see what was going on. Next thing you know
they were air borne. Sue had gone up the ski ramp and they went
flying.
Rule #2: Make sure you are standing next to Sue when you tell her
something. Joe was trying to tell her slow down and stop the boat.
Well Sue heard the stop part. She stopped the boat quickly and Joe
went flying over the side of the boat. Good thing he was in good
shape. Joe was fine but you could not say that about the boat.
Rule #3: Make sure you have your heart right with God before
stepping in a boat with Sue. Your life may depend on it.
Rule #4: When you retire make sure you don't buy a boat and invite
Sue along.
"Joe dear" said Sue, "can we go for a boat ride?" Since then Joe had
retired from his retirement.
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