Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Red Letter Day


When I saw I’d marked this historic day as “Year 11” on my organizer, I thought I’d made a mistake, miscalculated how long it’s been since I retired because it just doesn’t feel that long.

After checking, double checking, triple checking the timeframe, I did indeed gain my freedom this day 11 years ago.

Time flies when you’re not having to deal with racism, crazy bosses and abuse of authority in a job.

As to what I’ve been doing for the last eleven years, what I’ve accomplished, except for surviving family drama — of one kind or another during those years, surviving a pandemic (to date) and keeping active by participating in 5Ks (70 events thus far) and working out with a trainer for the last two years, I don’t really know that I accomplished anything meaningful or that I was even expected to accomplish anything other than continue to exist, keep going.

Friends have urged me to travel, but I don’t enjoy travelling — unless there’s a purpose, such as a Meditation Retreat, which I attended one every year until the pandemic brought an end to those, with no restart in sight. 

Travelling, seeing the world, dealing with planes, trains, boats, spending nights in strange hotels, just does not appeal to me, and I can’t understand those that do enjoy doing so.

At any rate, thanks to family drama, there have been some downs in the last eleven years (and it ain't over yet), but I pulled through, have managed to enjoy these retirement years, had fun and haven’t been bored, not even in lockdown.

Returning from this morning’s workout, I detoured to pick up mail, opened the security gate to the Mail Center and there, inside the enclosed area was the fast walking Covid recovered resident … without a mask.

Needless to say, I backed the heck out, then reached into my bag, retrieved the extra masks I’d been carrying around for just such a situation — running into her maskless.

"Do you need a mask? I have these extras that I’ve been carrying around", said I.

"Oh no, I have plenty of masks", said she.

The little voice in my head angrily said, “Well why the hell don’t you wear them!?” but, since I didn’t repeat it out loud, she didn’t hear that retort.

Then she looks at my mask and says, "Oh! You have a bling one. I wouldn’t mind having a bling mask".

"I don’t have any extra blings, just these" and I once again hold out a mask for her to take.

"Give those to someone who doesn’t have a mask. I have plenty, but thanks though".

If I thought she’d wear one, when out and about on the property, I’d order a bling mask for her; but if she’d not wearing any of the masks she says she now has, she probably won't wear the bling either ... except on special occasions.

Whatdoyathink? Should I invest in a bling for her and hope for the best — that she’ll mask up? If I go to the trouble and she STILL doesn't mask up, it will just make me feel stupid and angry.

14 comments:

  1. First of all, so nice to know of someone else that isn't all gung ho on travel. I feel the same way. Unless there's some sort of purpose to it, what's all the fuss about? I'd do a retreat or volunteer tourism, but just a trip for a trip's sake? Nah.
    I'm thinking maskless woman won't mask up around the property even if you give her bling. I'd bet money.

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    1. I'm thinking the same on maskless woman. Why bother. It's really hard to seem interested or impressed when people are bragging on their travels ... where they went, what they saw :-)

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  2. "unless there’s a purpose" Exactly.

    Dec 30th is my date. This year will be 23 years. Going back as a contractor doesn't subtract years does it? I still would have 21.

    Get her a bling mask. When you see her offer to put it on for her. Sneak some super glue on the ear loops. Problem solved.

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    1. Maybe staple a mask to her ear loops. Retiring on December 30th ... what a way to start off the New Year!

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  3. First Congrats on the Retirement Anniversary of Freedom! I often can't Believe I Retired from my Corporate Lives as many Years ago as I did, have to look at the Plaque the DA's Office presented me with to recall the last Corporate Life actually. *Ha ha ha* I'll be returning to part time work at the Antique Mall one Evening a Week this coming Friday, we'll see how that works out? As for maskless people, they'll find all kinds of excuses not to wear them. What annoys me more actually is the ones who wear a Mask improperly, just WTF, if you're not wearing it over your Nose or as a Chin Strap, or hanging off one Ear, what ARE you thinking as far as effectiveness? Are some people really that stupid... you don't have to answer that, I think we both know the answer. *LOL*

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    1. I give up on the maskless woman. Can't convert her, best just to stay out of her way.

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  4. One of the only things I look forward to getting order about...retirement. Your lucky to not having to work in these times and with all the hassles in these times. I have at least 20 some years to go yet, but luckily like my jobs I've had and pay nice. I have always been able to fill my time nicely and unlike yourself, love to travel, so that will be a huge thing for me.

    And I wouldn't waste your money...she won't wear that mask. Or order it and tell her to choke on it. She of all people should be careful.

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    1. Believe you me, I KNOW how lucky I am. The timing of when I retired has been fortunate on so many levels ... and I didn't even plan for it, never thought I would. You already do so many fun things, go to fun events. It's almost like you're semi-retired.

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  5. If she has plenty of masks but doesn't know what to do with them she needs to stand at least ten feet away at all times.
    I am over the foolishness.
    HAVING a mask is useless.
    WEARING a mask helps.

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    1. It makes no sense. Especially for her, since she's experienced covid first hand, ended up hospitalized.

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  6. LOL. Hoooo. What restraint you have! Congrats on enjoying retirement.

    SOooooo, next time you see the Maskless person, offer your cheaper mask again, and then when she refuses it again, place it over your bling one in order to more safely keep talking to her!
    Didn't you know?: Some people don't spew covid out their nose? Jeepers. It's like the guys who ride motorcycles without a helmet. They really don't need one, because they have no brains to protect.
    Stay safe! Love your blog's perspective. Linda in Kansas

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    1. She's proving the validity of my assessment of her long before the pandemic, that she's just not too swift. Otherwise, she'd have read my offering a mask as a signal to mask up.

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  7. If she hasn't learned her lesson yet, then she probably won't. I wouldn't waste my money on her but I understand why you want her to wear it.

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    1. Hopefully, she doesn't live to regret not having learned her lesson.

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