My evening walk, that is - I set out much later than usual and so, didn't walk too long or too far! Just the few blocks up to the main road and back, going in the opposite direction than my usual walk. That is the short part of today's title. The sweet part is this:
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| Crumb Doughnut (and doughnut holes) |
Today, I slept until 10:00 a.m. (after going to sleep at 3:30 a.m.). I had set the alarm for that time, because I had planned to go to the office, later in the morning. Officially, tomorrow (Friday) is my last day and I could have gone in, tomorrow, to do my time sheets and hand in my documents, but, I wanted to go in and do it all, today. However, the tendency to procrastinate was great! By the time I had coffee, wrote Wednesday's blog post, showered and dressed, and texted my supervisor to let him know that I was coming in, it was almost noon. So, it was already afternoon when I got to the office. I couldn't access the computer system (I've already been taken off!) to fill out my time sheets, so the office timekeeper did that for me. Then, I handed in my parking permit and my employee ID. I didn't expect that I'd find that final act to be so emotionally draining, but it was! I've known I'm retiring for some time, now, I've been planning since March, and I've been retired for all intents and purposes since the end of July when I went on vacation, but the physical act of handing in my parking permit and ID made it seem very real and final! I know retirement is something we all look forward to, and I am quite ready for it, but I also felt a little sad. That phase of my life is over.
I took this photo while I was waiting for the shuttle bus to go to my office, this afternoon. It is a reflection of the Los Angeles City Hall seen on the windows of the new Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters building:
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| Reflections |
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| City Hall (side view) |
Dinner was freshly cooked rice with the last of the shrimp curry and some dhal. After dinner, I video chatted with my daughter for a bit.
Today, I am grateful for:
- A long and fulfilling career
- Being able to retire
- A beautiful, sunny day
- Doughnuts!
- Being able to look forward to the next phase of my life
Thursday's To Do List:
- Go to the office to fill out the last time sheet and hand in parking permit, etc. - DONE
- Put away the dried laundry - DONE
- Sew another set of pillowcases (Didn't feel quite up to it)
- Daily walk - DONE
- Put gas to the car (Didn't need to)
I didn't sew any pillowcases today, because I didn't feel like it and didn't want to make any mistakes by sewing when I wasn't in the mood to do so. I didn't put gas to the car, either, because there was enough gas to drive to downtown and back. There is still more than a quarter tank of gas, but less than half. I will fill it up tomorrow, or over the weekend.
Friday's To Do List:
- Buy more flea spray for the garden
- Grocery shop
- Sew
- Meditation session at the temple
- Daily walk (go in the other direction, away from the doughnut shops!)
- Have M spray the garden
- Put gas to the car
How was your Thursday? What are your plans for Friday?
The doughnuts do look delicious, however when I don't eat, then eat something like that, it's an instant draining crash and big sleep. Los Angeles looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know, not the healthiest thing to eat! Didn't make me sleepy, though. I almost wish that it did make me sleepy - I have trouble falling asleep at night. I am usually up till the wee hours of the morning, as they say - it was 3:30 a.m., before I went to sleep, last night. :)
DeleteSo you finally drew the line under your career and officially retired. I can see how that could be an emotional experience, (((Hugs))).
ReplyDeleteThat doughnut and "offspring" look wonderful. I bought something delicious today. In another town there is a bakery and I usually forget to go, but this time it was on my list and I bought 12 Kaiser rolls and 6 yummy looking bagels. We will each have one of those toasted for breakfast tomorrow. All the rest is in the freezer.
Yes, I am officially retired! I certainly didn't expect to feel so emotional about it, but, I'm sure I'll enjoy being retired. :)
DeleteHa, ha, I like that - doughnut and offspring! :D Your rolls and bagels sound delicious. Enjoy!
Retirement is a big transition! And turning in those final documents really makes it official. I've been dealy with a bit of identity confusion since graduation -- I've found that it accompanies every major transition in my life. It's weird when something you know about yourself turns into who you were, instead of who you are. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura. Yes, transitions can be difficult. I needed to say goodbye to who I was before I could say hello to who I am going to be. :)
DeleteI can certainly relate to the emotional drain you felt on this day. Retirement was a wonderful, exciting experience for me. I accomplished all the paperwork, turning in my parking pass, and packing up my desk with gusto. But I was taken aback by the emotion I felt when I turned in my keys. That was clearly the end point for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. Certain things signify the finality of an action. The emotions accompanying that particular action just caught me by surprise. I really wasn't expecting it! There was a "this is it!" sort of feeling and I felt nostalgic about the past 35 years. But, I'm enjoying being retired, so all is good. :)
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