Self-direction and grace

I would be enjoying retirement far more if I could stop inflicting so much damage. I tore the cartilage in my right knee in November doing a Pilates class when the trainer insisted on adding a yoga cat stretch. I told her that I did not do anything on my knees anymore. But then I was foolish enough to allow her to talk me into it. That knee injury led to a wrecked shoulder in December as I required assistance in disembarking from a boat in St. Lucia in order to participate in a delicous local luncheon awaiting us on a beach. The crew members' enthusiasm in lifting me down did not allow me time to let go my left hand hold, thus tearing the shoulder. That injury shouldn't count as the trip was worth the subsequent agony but it definitely interfered with writing and other work on the computer for some time. I spent much of the first quarter of 2012 in physiotherapy, in addition to getting cortisone shots in my knees and huge new patella stabelizer braces. Things have improved immensely both for getting around and for writing again.

Otherwise, I am slowly moving toward a life of self-direction and grace through a process of re-discovering myself. I spend much of my time alone puttering about, following a leisurely sorting schedule that I have set for myself. This generates piles of paper for recycling and shredding and the occasional exciting bit of archival material. More about this process to come. I did go to the Arts Schools Network conference in Orlando at the end of January just to keep in touch and for the fun of it. However, almost every time I plan a visit to either of my old schools, CALC or Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, something intervenes. I have seen very little of those I used to work with and time is rapidly running out for this school year.

I am editing the long neglected draft of this post as a start back to blogging from our brother and sister-in-law's home in Canberra, Australia. This three-week vacation is our third in this beautiful country and my reason for returning to my blog. I will be going overseas again late in June for a trip to France with a bunch of women out of Jacksonville, Florida. Another friend my age is currently, and successfully, undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. That has reminded me that there is no time to waste. If I want to do something, it is better that I do it now while I am still able. Remaining happy, well, and active is what I wish for everyone.

No Back to School for Me

Yesterday everyone went back to school. I did not. In fact, I slept in until 10:20 and after groggily making a cup of coffee, I sat and watched the last half hour of the Marilyn Denis Show. Then I watched Murdoch Mysteries and played solitaire until noon. I managed to get showered and dressed and was finally beginning to consider my To Do list by mid-afternoon. First: call the Canadian Children's Dance Theatre to find out how I can enrol my granddaughter for a class. Second: visit a neighbour to pick out a few films for our first day at TIFF next Monday. Hmmm. Dinner time. Cooked so much for the neighbourhood contra-ribfest that I really didn't feel like preparing food. At all. I put some potatoes on to boil and raced up to Longos for a BBQ chicken. We had it with the new potatoes, leftover green and yellow beans from the garden, leftover marinated salad and the last of the pies I had baked for the fest. The leftover pulled pork will do for tonight. Later, having tea in front of the TV, I got out my iPad and logged onto TIFF. I found out that, although I can buy up to 4 tickets per film on-line, most of those we chose are Off Sale. But if we get tickets for one of the evening performances, we can work backward from there and will probably end up at the box office taking our chances that morning. Checking my gmail, I was sad to learn that the Edible Arrangement I had sent to CALC for the Ed-Vance staff meeting had not arrived on time. It was waiting for the principal afterwards. That shop will hear about this from me. I did want to send a tasty little greeting to the staff to wish them a good year. Just so happy that I did not have to be there and could simply laze the day away.

Last 2 Days at CALC

I was happy to go back to CALC on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, to lend a hand to my replacement and help out a bit with registrations. It gave me a chance to share a few insights with the new VP regarding the way things work at the school and to share a few docs that she will need over the next few weeks. I had offered to come in for the entire week as I don't mind giving a little back. But I was really needed only for the two days. What a relief! As much as I enjoyed helping out, seeing some of the staff and students, and managing a bit of a visit with some colleagues, I went home exhausted at the end of the day. If I learned nothing else, the experience confirmed for me that my decision to retire had been the right decision, meaning both correct and best. I was so glad that I did not have to go in today or any day in the future. I slept in, watched CityLine and the Marilyn Denis Show while playing a lot of solitaire, and then went for a pedicure and got my hair cut. By the time I got home it was late afternoon. Just time to harvest the ripe tomatoes and tidy up the flower arrangements before going to get the seniors special at the fish and chips shop. Tonight, I kicked back in my recliner and watched movies on TV while I played another dozen hands or so of solitaire. Husband is busy in his office prepping his college classes for this fall. He starts on Tuesday. I don't. I almost felt retired today. Oh, wait. I forgot. I picked up some information on Tango lessons after my hair appointment. Yeah. I am retired.