Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Empty Nester/Retirement (from work) (09/10/09)
-
TITLE: The Totem Pole | Previous Challenge Entry
By Paul Potenza
09/11/09 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Whenever I hear some fossilized old fudd say "Oh I'll NEVER retire...I just wouldn't know what to do with myself." I want to emit the bitter barking laugh of a seal choking on a kazoo. This is because I, personally will never get a chance to retire nor will I ever have a truly empty nest.
You see I adopted 4 children. I am 54 years old and unemployed. I should start a new job sometime within the next month and If I successfully work at that job for 20 years, I'll be 74. Obviously I won't be laying pipeline in Alaska. No...my opportunities are more limited to Greeter at WalMart or Urinal Cleaner at the local high school.
It didn't start out that way. Oh no. I started out hard and fast and I held some pretty important jobs in my life for some high powered people but I made some dumb decisions and I ended up here at the bottom of the totem pole.
Please don't get the idea that I'm feeling sorry for myself. (Actually I am a little.) I just thought that I'd be farther along in the pecking order than I am right now. As for an empty nest, my kids see to it that I'm never alone. I have three sons, one daughter, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren as well as one son who was thoughtful enough to provide me "babysitting" chores for his idiot husky named Apollo because he (my son, not Apollo) didn't quite grasp the fact that when you buy a dog of this nature, you can't keep it in an eight by ten foot cage in a trailer and expect it to fare well whilst you (my son again) are working 10 to 15 hours per day. Since I happen to have a rather large yard and can keep an eye on the dog, he gets to stay with me while I housebreak, walk and clean up after him alternately filling in the post holes he keeps digging in my yard. (Not that I am complaining.)
When I look at what my life has become and where it is going I have to smile.
You see, I am rich.
I have a God who loves me enough to ensure that I will never get complacent but He still gives me my daily bread. I have sons and a daughter who have provided me with grandchildren and great grandchildren so that I'll have to get off the couch if for no other reason than to shoo them out of my guitar case.
And I have Apollo, who climbs up onto my bed at night and rests his head on my belly as I'm reading. I scratch his ears and he falls asleep, safe in the knowledge that I'll never retire, and he dreams of post holes yet undug.
Maybe tomorrow I'll get him to dig one for my totem pole.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.