We welcome back our snowbirds…new and old. Many may be here for the first time, and others have come back year after year, to enjoy our warmer winter climate. I say that with tongue in cheek, as I think my thermometer says 30 degrees. We had such great weather up until now, however it is like a snow fall in April, it won’t be around for long. The nice thing is, as cool as it is in the morning, it normally warms up nicely in the afternoon. The warmth of the sun is delightful, this time of year. Again welcome, we are richer as a community because you are here. You bring with you renewed enthusiasm, you remind us all how fortunate we are to be living here, and it is just fun catching up on friendships. However, I did read somewhere that many of our snowbirds are turning into full-time residents, and that is a good sign too. What is the saying, the more the merrier. I believe that is true.
Volunteers – The heart of The Villages…
I am just so amazed at the dedication of the residents that volunteer to teach us any thing you could ever imagine. I understand there are now close to 2000 activities in the Villages. In most cases, no cost to the participants and all run by volunteers, and I have to say very dedicated volunteers, as they will be up and out early in the day to see that we get our water aerobics in, our pickleball lessons, art lessons, book clubs, line dancing, ballrooom dancing,yoga instruction, zumba, writing workshops, bridge,civil discourse, philosophy club, foreign films, and on and on and on. The amount of talent that is in the Villages is beyond belief, and the unselfishness of those talented people to share their knowledge is a great benefit to all of us. Recently I attended a presentation given by a former History teacher. He was so, so interesting that I wished I could go back and take High School history all over. When I was in high school it never piqued my curiosity, but then again I might have been too busy watching the door and the clear glass panel to see who was looking in , or checking the room for any potential future Saturday night dates. Anyway, at another presentation the speaker, who had worked for corporations that were doing business all over the world, started his speech with the fact that he had made provisions in his will to distribute his wealth to his family, however he felt his wealth also included everything he had learned over the years and by giving presentations he was sharing that wealth with all of us, which was not only very enlightening but also made us understand the need for trade with other countries. I took that thought a bit farther and applied that to the volunteers…they are sharing their wealth and passsion with us…and we are loving it. Thanks to the many hours you give us. Hoping everyone holds you in high esteem for what you do, as I know I do. My hats also go out to those of you who are involved in charitable organizations, clothing drives, food pantries, hospital volunteers and auxiliary members, and again and again the list goes on. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
The Villages did it again…
New Year’s Eve Sean and I were on our way to the Bowling Alley, our silence was broken with Sean asking what fingers do I put in the bowling ball? You’re asking me? I hadn’t bowled in over 40 years, and even though I don’t remember a lot lately, I specifically remember the last time I bowled thinking, if I never bowl again it will be too soon. Well even 40 years later was too soon. As he parked the car and we were getting out I said, I wish I was getting into the car right now and it would be all over. Sean whole heartedly agreed, at which point I am now aggravated. I was here for him, it was his friends that suggested this and now he can hardly wait to get back in the car? I kindly reminded him that it was his idea, at which point he shot back so fast, that I am here because you wanted to bowl and I figured if I said no, I’d never hear the end of it. Do you really think I would have been mad if you said Charlotte, no we are not bowling New Year’s Eve. Just as we jumped out of the car, the conversation not going in a good direction, a couple cheerfully wished us a Happy New Year, and raced on with all their bowling apparatus trailing behind them, like luggage at an airport. Their cheerfulnuess and equipment only added to our intimidation. As we slowly approached the alley, my thoughts went back to the events leading up to the commitment; we were with a group of Sean’s friends having a really good time. I had a couple of drinks, and when approached about bowling, it was true it sounded like a great idea…it was my drink induced enthusiasm that got us here. We timidly entered the Bowling Alley and what to our wondering eyes did we find, that about half of the bowlers were just like us, wondering which fingers go in what holes. I bumped into a man who was returning a 17 lb. ball because someone said a beginner shouldn’t use that weight. Sean, who wears a size 11 shoe and was given size 12 1/2, stumbles towards me like a circus clown…we looked at the predicament we had gotten into and we found ourselves surrounded by laughter, everyone having a great time. We bowled in our New Year’s Eve hats, and getting any number of pins down was celebrated with an end-zone dance and horn blowing. Even my consistent gutter balls got high fives and I learned that I can throw them, and no one cares including myself. We put our balls down at midnight and celebrated with champayne. Need I say we have our names on the list for next year, and have spent New Year’s Day telling everyone how much fun it was, and you have to join us next year. I haven’t gotten close to signing up to joining the Bad Bowlers League, (they really do have one) but who knows, maybe one more New Year’s Eve bowling bash, I just might. The Villages did it again: are you serious, I’m going to move to Florida and bowl?? Yes, I did move to Florida And I was going to bowl? Yes I did and loved it. How did this happen? It’s the Villages, it’s magical. Try it, you’ll like it too.
HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2012
Happy New Year means getting serious with my Blog, it also means staying on my diet, and of course exercising, planning the long awaited trip to Ireland, and also Colorado….see there are some happy things to look forward to and then there are those New Year’s resolutions that just keep coming up year after year after year. They are so very boring, but really at my age so very important, so that I can enjoy a trip to Ireland and Colorado. I will finish up the year 2012 telling you just how successful I have been. Don’t they say you have to verbalize your goal, you have to write it down, you have to surround yourself with supportive people…well here goes. Let’s take my first resolution; I will commit to posting five days a week, however I just remembered another saying, don’t make your goal too big, it has to be attainable. Okay, check back in three days and see how I’m doing. Oh boy, I can’t believe I put that in writing. If you think this is easy, write your goal down and tell me, I most assuredly will be your cheerleader. Wishing you good luck, good fortune, Happy New Year, and 100% success in filling your New Year’s Resolutions, or if not, 100% guilt free failure.
Discovering the secret to retirement….
My sister Jane from California was visiting recently, and she like myself is retired, yet is involved in different projects relating to her profession. As we were discussing retirement, she said what she disliked the most was that things she fit into her day prior to retirement, such as shopping, washing clothes, cleaning, dentist & doctor appointments, getting a hair cut, etc. have now taken over her entire day. ” It seems I just twitter my time away,” she said.
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. All this while I kept returning to work because I disliked retirement. Why?…I have become an expert twitterer, actually even better, I am an expert procrastinating twitterer. I took those chores, and because I didn’t like doing them I spread them over days and days. No wonder I always wanted to go back to work.
I realized that those people that were really enjoying retirement, were making their fun activities their first priority, and they then fit those other chores in, just like when they worked. I thought I had discovered the secret to retirement, happy retirees don’t twitter….until I shared my observation with a happily retired friend, who said, “are you crazy, that is the greatest thing about retirement, I love twittering, I have all the time in the world to twitter, and I do…every day!”
Wow, I found it, ” To twitter or not to twitter” that is the secret.
Words That Come Back to Us….
It’s amazing that sometimes when we really reach back into our memory bank, we can actually feel the emotions we had at different happenings in our life. I specifically remember how I felt the day I got my social security number and my working papers. I was 16 years old and in my mind I had left the house that day as a child, and returned home all grown up with my social security card in my wallet, and working papers. I can remember the excitement I felt and remarked to my Aunt that I had gotten the best number. She asked what it was, thinking it may be something unique like 123-45-6789. When I told her the number, she laughed and looked at me with a very puzzled look on her face, because there didn’t seem to be any rhyme nor reason to the numbers. She asked what made it the best, and without hesitating, I said because it is mine. To me that number was a right of passage, I now entered the adult world, I could now go to work, no more babysitting for me. I also said something else that day that I have thought of many times over the years. In still talking about my number, I said a very nice OLDER person gave it to me. With the emphasis being on OLDER, she inquired, how old? About your age, I innocently said. She gasped and said, I am only 51, I am not old. I was really confused as 51 was old to me, luckily I realized there was no way I could make this better, so I said nothing. But over the years I have thought of that conversation; when I turned 50 and especially now when I say someone is young and they are in their 60’s. 51? Teenagers.
Just do it!
We are never too old to learn, we just need to have someone sitting at our computer doing it for us, and telling us click here and click there. We write down the directions, and as long as we follow them (which is a problem) we do it. On a suggestion from my daughter-in-law Laura, I wanted to write a Blog…not sure how it will evolve….not sure what I will say, and perhaps more concerned as to what you will say, I am jumping in with both feet and launching this. I should fess up, my son launched my blog, and now it is up to me, and you, to keep it going. I thought it would be fun to use this as a vehicle to share what’s happening in The Villages, there are so many stories. It will not be political, it will not be negative. If you have any suggestions, would like to advise me, share your blogging knowledge with me, I would more than appreciate it and would really welcome it. Ignorance is not always bliss, especially when sharing it over the internet. Let me hear from you.