Do you have plans?
Two years ago I told my boss that I will be retiring this next spring. I gave him two and a half years to plan for my retirement. Last week he began. His first question, "Do you think you could put off your retirement a little longer? Talk to your husband," he suggested.
"Does he know how old you are?" my husband asked incredulously when I told him.
Next day, when I assured my boss that I actually intended to retire next spring, he inquired, "Why? Do you have plans?"
Yes, I have plans.
I plan to have a bold wonderful celebration party in June. I will celebrate working for more than fifty years and finally retiring. I will celebrate my wedding anniversary with the most amazing man and helpmate. I will celebrate our new home that is 1000 miles closer to family than we have lived for twenty-five years. I will celebrate my 70th birthday.
I plan to sell my house and move back home and spend time with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I plan to take them to the zoo and feed acorns to ostriches and remember times when my son fed ostriches, too. I plan to make them knitted sweaters, embroidered pillow covers, and quilts. And then, I plan to teach them to knit and embroider and quilt.
I plan to teach my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to eat and cook healthy food. I'll watch them run and jump and tumble and laugh and swim.
I plan to teach my grandchildren old dances like the Twist, jive and even the Charleston. I plan to have them teach me the latest dances and songs and singers. I plan to tell them stories about cross-country car trips before the Interstate system and before television and let them tell me about the latest marvels in transportation and communication. I will reach into the past to find my ancestors and theirs.
I plan to teach my grandchildren to love and respect and admire others who are different from themselves. I will call it wisdom. I will tell them how strong and beautiful and smart and kind they are. We will reach for their dreams together.
I plan to grow fruits and vegetables and flowers in my yard. I plan to take the time to get trim, fit, and healthy. I plan to find a way to live within my means in a planet-healthy way.
I plan to build a porch swing for reading Chaucer and watching the sunrise and sunset and drifting clouds whenever I want. I plan to stay in bed every morning as long as I like and not worry about getting to the job on time. I will gossip with my neighbors; I will visit museums and take in plays and concerts. I will wear red and purple.
I plan to go to the local high school and find the teacher who needs the most help and spend the day helping maintain control and teach the next generation the skills they will need to be successful.
I plan to attend Town meetings and have my voice heard. I plan to vote and get others to vote. I plan to make sure that the elderly, the infirm, the poor all have voices in their government.
I plan to visit Yellowstone and Rome and India and Alaska and the tip of South America. I plan to learn Japanese and as many new things as I can.
And I plan to die. Let it not be said that I forgot that every life ends. I plan to leave this world a better place than it would be if I had not been here. I plan to have people mourn my passing.
Two years ago I told my boss that I will be retiring this next spring. I gave him two and a half years to plan for my retirement. Last week he began. His first question, "Do you think you could put off your retirement a little longer? Talk to your husband," he suggested.
"Does he know how old you are?" my husband asked incredulously when I told him.
Next day, when I assured my boss that I actually intended to retire next spring, he inquired, "Why? Do you have plans?"
Yes, I have plans.
I plan to have a bold wonderful celebration party in June. I will celebrate working for more than fifty years and finally retiring. I will celebrate my wedding anniversary with the most amazing man and helpmate. I will celebrate our new home that is 1000 miles closer to family than we have lived for twenty-five years. I will celebrate my 70th birthday.
I plan to sell my house and move back home and spend time with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I plan to take them to the zoo and feed acorns to ostriches and remember times when my son fed ostriches, too. I plan to make them knitted sweaters, embroidered pillow covers, and quilts. And then, I plan to teach them to knit and embroider and quilt.
I plan to teach my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to eat and cook healthy food. I'll watch them run and jump and tumble and laugh and swim.
I plan to teach my grandchildren old dances like the Twist, jive and even the Charleston. I plan to have them teach me the latest dances and songs and singers. I plan to tell them stories about cross-country car trips before the Interstate system and before television and let them tell me about the latest marvels in transportation and communication. I will reach into the past to find my ancestors and theirs.
I plan to teach my grandchildren to love and respect and admire others who are different from themselves. I will call it wisdom. I will tell them how strong and beautiful and smart and kind they are. We will reach for their dreams together.
I plan to grow fruits and vegetables and flowers in my yard. I plan to take the time to get trim, fit, and healthy. I plan to find a way to live within my means in a planet-healthy way.
I plan to build a porch swing for reading Chaucer and watching the sunrise and sunset and drifting clouds whenever I want. I plan to stay in bed every morning as long as I like and not worry about getting to the job on time. I will gossip with my neighbors; I will visit museums and take in plays and concerts. I will wear red and purple.
I plan to go to the local high school and find the teacher who needs the most help and spend the day helping maintain control and teach the next generation the skills they will need to be successful.
I plan to attend Town meetings and have my voice heard. I plan to vote and get others to vote. I plan to make sure that the elderly, the infirm, the poor all have voices in their government.
I plan to visit Yellowstone and Rome and India and Alaska and the tip of South America. I plan to learn Japanese and as many new things as I can.
And I plan to die. Let it not be said that I forgot that every life ends. I plan to leave this world a better place than it would be if I had not been here. I plan to have people mourn my passing.