In my humble opinion, getting out of bed is one of the hardest tasks in life.  I am not one of those that jumps out of bed each morning anxious for a new day.  I always want another hour of sleep, regardless of what time I get up.  I’m currently staying with my son and his family, as I continue my retirement tour across the country – Oregon to Arizona to Florida. There’s a three hour time difference from home to here, so I’m constantly trying to figure out what time it really is and which time zone better suits my needs at any given moment.  They have all left for school and work, while I stayed in bed an extra hour this morning.  I still wanted another hour of sleep – just because!

As I have for the last 10 years, I always get up and go for a run.  It’s not much to look forward to, but it keeps me going and has provided the necessary bridge between those working days and retirement days.  Nothing has changed in the first two hours of my day in quite some time:  I get up, walk the dogs, dawdle a bit, do some stretching, sit-ups, push-ups, lace up my Nike shoes, run, relax at the computer, and get dressed.  It’s almost mechanical – I’ve done it now for 2,984 consecutive days.   How do I know?  www.runeveryday.com computes it for me.

What I do after that two-hour “warm up” period varies each day.  It used to be work, but now I mostly get to do what I want to do.  Yes, I have my honey-do list, household and pet responsibilities, and fix-it tasks – those are the hassles of retirement.  At least, now, I don’t also have to face the hassles of a day of work.  I’ve been reminded the past few days of how tough it is to raise a family, get kids off to school, earn a living, and crash after a long day of no time for yourself. However, I’m a grandfather and a guest in my son’s home, so all I have to do is sit back and watch the action!  It’s exhausting just to watch!  I do try to help relieve some of the pain, provide some financial support, and stay out of the way.  I also limit my visits to a few days at a time so I don’t “hang around in the air” like a fish dinner.  After all, I have hassles of my own, remember!

I took the kids to Disney, the Daytona 500, and to a Spring Training game.  I will be flying back tomorrow with a thin wallet and the satisfaction of being a good grandfather and father for a few days.  Hopefully, I’ve provided a little relief to their complicated lives.  At times, I feel guilty for bringing him into this world, and other times I feel like a proud parent, as somehow they get by – just as I did all those years.  Now, I just smile as I reflect on school, college, marriage, family, marriage again, and work-work- work, knowing that all of those stages are behind me.  I also have to thank my wife, who is home taking care of the pets and working hard.  She’s helping make this visit possible and I miss her.  All I have left to deal with are the “hassles of retirement,” that today I say with tongue in cheek!

I will return to Portland late tomorrow, enjoy a happy hour get-together with friends still working to kick of my “weekend,”  do laundry, and relax a few weeks before the “hassles” of travel kick into gear once again.  My wife and I will be going to Indianapolis to visit her 96 year old mother, then Hawaii and Paris to round out the first half of the 2017 retirement tour.  I might even sneak in a trip to San Jose to hopefully watch the Oregon Ducks in the Sweet 16, since my Indiana Hoosiers will not make the cut.

Well, back to reality, my doctor’s office just called and I need to schedule a follow-up visit – speaking of hassles.  I see the Chiropractor on Thursday and the Dentist on Friday to round out the week.  Friends say  I look good on the outside, but I’m definitely “rusted out on the inside:”

Rust in Peace

People say I’m younger,

Than I look.

That my body’s youthful,

In any fitness book.

 

They like the way I dress,

And my childish grin.

My hair’s still there,

My figure thin.

 

But trapped inside,

Many years of stress.

Anger and pain,

I must confess.

 

Disappointment,

Pain and loss.

Troubles at home,

A demanding boss.

 

Looks good outside,

But rusty inside.

So many cracks,

I’m able to hide.

 

Like a vintage auto,

Shiny and sleek.

But my undercarriage,

Is rusted out and weak.

 

Blood pressure high,

Reflexes slow.

Another gasket,

About to blow.

 

Used to be fast,

Much in demand.

Cocky and confident,

The world in hand.

 

Just a few wrinkles,

Teeth still white.

A couple of dents,

From a fist fight.

 

Tan and fit,

You think I’m lookin’ good.

Just wait until,

You look under my hood.

 

Looks good outside,

But rusty inside.

So many cracks,

I’m able to hide.

 

 Like a vintage auto,

Shiny and sleek.

But my undercarriage,

Is rusted out and weak

 

Rev up my engine,

And hear it sputter.

My arteries clogged,

With too much butter.

 

A little beer gut,

But you should see my liver.

A little soft in spots,

But I can still deliver.

 

In  no time flat,

Zero to Eighty.

Driven only on Sunday,

By my old lady.

 

When my time runs out,

They’ll look at me and say.

What a good looking corpse,

He even hid the gray.

 

Looks good outside,

But rusty inside.

So many cracks,

I’m able to hide.

 

Like a vintage auto,

Shiny and sleek.

But my undercarriage,

Is rusted out and weak.

 

johnstonwrites

Copyright April 2009