Two Milestones

We all say it – time flies. I can’t believe it’s been ten years today since I left work. (I officially retired on June 30, but that’s just on paper.) Also, I’m one day away from turning 70. I don’t know which milestone is more daunting.

Retirement

I love being retired. In fact, I wrote about it once – The Perfect Job for Me. It seems funny to call it a “job” because I don’t really think of it that way. I have very few deadlines/obligations, so it’s mostly my time to spend as I want. And some days that’s doing nothing besides straightening up the house and taking a shower. I love my slow mornings, catching up on Facebook, emails, and playing a few games. Keeps my brain engaged!!

Last weekend, I was able to spend 22+ hours cross-stitching. I belong to a Facebook group called #24HOCS. I’ve written about it before – 24 Hours of Cross Stitch Recap. It’s become a lot more casual – we don’t even have to log hours or post anymore. But I do keep track and share my progress once per day.

It’s being able to do things on the weekends and not feel like you’re using up all your free time. Now I have free time seven days a week!!

I spent a fair amount of time over my ten years taking care of my parents, which limited what we could do. I was so thankful I was retired, as I don’t think I could have survived it if I’d still been working.

My mom had a bad fall in early 2020 (yes, the COVID year). It was a nightmare trying to navigate through all the medical and care center issues when you couldn’t physically go anywhere. During this time, we also had to figure out what my dad needed. Again, tough to do during a pandemic. We thought we had a plan to let them be together eventually, but that didn’t work, and I’m afraid my dad suffered the brunt of it.

My mom died in December of 2020, but that year seemed endless. Lots of frustration and tears as we cleaned out their house and tried to make the right decisions for them. I learned a lot about Medicare Advantage plans (don’t get one) and Long Term Care (this is a good thing).

My dad lost all enthusiasm for life, and in mid-2023, we had to move him to a care center because he was falling a lot. He was closer to me and I spent four afternoons a week with him. My sister took the other three and we shared laundry duties. After about six months, he started failing and died in February 2024. Fortunately, he had everything in order and didn’t really own anything anymore, so settling his estate went quickly. I finished that up a year ago, when I filed his last tax return and closed his checking account.

Overall, my health has been good. My vertigo spells started right before I retired, so I’ve dealt with that for ten years now. It’s much better, but I still have spells that get me down. I try to enjoy my days without thinking about it, but it’s always on my mind.

What else? My husband has had four surgeries and is about to have a fifth. Why he started falling apart when we got together, I don’t know. We moved almost two years ago now. It’s gone fast. My grand niece Sophie was born six years ago, and we can’t imagine life without her. We go to a lot of ball games to watch our grandchildren, which would be difficult if we were working.

Turning 70

I guess I can’t have ten years of retirement without turning 70, but this birthday feels different. Seems like I read so many books where a 70-year-old character is described as old and fragile. I may be old, but I’m not fragile. However, it sounds so old.

One day you’re 20 in the 70s.
The next, you’re 70 in the 20s.

How do 70 years go this quickly?

I renewed my driver’s license on Monday. He told me it was good until 2034. I’ll be 78 at that point. You start thinking about things like that and wonder if you’ll still be around.

When they were young, I made my nieces a cross-stitched Christmas ornament every year for twelve years. This year, I decided to start making them for Sophie. On purpose, I made all twelve and put them in a labeled box. If I’m not around twelve more years, I want her to have all of them.

I bought a new car last October. I usually keep my cars for 8-10 years. Will this be my last one?

I had a colonoscopy four years ago. After it was over, my doctor said I should have another one in seven years – if I can tolerate it at my age!! Can I use that as an excuse to never have one again?

No one really talks about how your body will change. I have things growing all over – my dermatologist’s dream. My hearing is bad, my eyesight has degraded, and my legs get stiff, especially if I’ve been sitting for a while. I weigh the most I ever have and can’t seem to shake the extra pounds. I start to get tired in the late afternoon, but I can’t go to bed before midnight (or later).

I’ve lost friends and family. Some didn’t have the luck of making it to 70. Others lived longer than they wanted to.

There are some good things about being 70. I no longer have to get a pap smear. I can go two years between mammograms. I delayed taking social security until I am 70 (thank you Principal Financial Group for my pension), so I will start getting those payments in a month.

I guess all I can do is move forward and make the most of each day. I honestly don’t think about how long I have until little reminders pop up. Tim and I still have much to do with our lives. We have to make it to Florida next winter!!!