Retirement
Don Coldsmith
Monday, September 11, 2006
A FEW WEEKS AGO, Baxter Black, the veterinarian/comedian/columnist/musician/entertainer/cowboy poet, mentioned in his weekly column a friend who had recently retired at the ripe old age of 55. To Baxter, this was inconceivable. “He’s too young. In his prime. He should suffer more.”
He produced a series of analogies which really fit the situation. Baxter describes such an act as being like, for instance, having one shoe shined, rotating just two tires, decorating the Christmas tree to within two feet of the top, or washing just one side of your car, clipping your toenails on only one foot or not finishing the marathon. Or, installing an elevator that doesn’t go all the way to the top.
Well, you get the idea. I’ve felt this way for years and have seen friends who were eager to reach a selected age. Then, they could “retire,” and move somewhere away from the friends they have enjoyed for the past many decades. I’ve seen some of these begin to dry up and fade out of the picture. They didn’t seem to me to be having very much fun.
I’m sure I get part of my attitude on this from my dad. He was a Methodist minister and I recall a remark of his when I was pretty small. A friend of his had retired and wasn’t really enjoying it. My dad’s comment: “I don’t care much for this retirement foolishness.”
When he officially retired from the pastorate, he continued as a “part-time” pastor. At 86, he died on a Friday night with an unfinished sermon for the coming Sunday on his desk. New material.
Young people until a few decades ago expected to work in one specialty until they were “retirement age.” Now, it is expected that a college graduate will probably have four or more vocations. I guess I was ahead of my time. I’ve had jobs of many kinds and learned a lot in every one. Don’t know yet what I want to be when I grow up.
Once, when I had completed phasing over from the profession of medicine to that of a writer, I was asked by a friend, “Well, how are you enjoying retirement?”
I was astonished. I wasn’t even “retirement age” yet.
“I’m not retired,” I told him.
“Oh. Where are you working?”
“At home. I write books.”
He giggled. “Oh, yeah. THAT!”
“Look,” I told him, “I have contracts and deadlines, an office and a full time employee.”
“Well, yeah, but . . .” he giggled again.
I gave up. I was tempted to ask if he had ever READ a book, but decided not to confuse him. He may have needed all the help he could get.
A job, after all, is some task that needs to done. Hopefully, someone is willing to pay money to someone else to accomplish it. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve learned something at every job I ever worked. If we aren’t learning, then it’s the wrong employee or the wrong job, I guess. Maybe both. Maybe the same is true about ENJOYING what we’re doing.
Now, let’s get real. Willard Scott, on the morning TV show, wishes a happy birthday to centenarians, folks who have reached 100 years old. This is a nice, friendly gesture, using the occasion to advertise Smucker’s fruit and berry jams and jellies. (With a name like Smucker’s, it has to be good,” their advertising states.)
A few decades ago, with expected life span for humans about 40 years, a person turning 100 had been a rarity. Now, they’ll parade several pictures each time Willard Scott gives the weather. But, the thing which catches my attention is that in the group of six or eight, there will usually be one or two who are still employed, at 100 years of age and older. It calls to mind my favorite mother-in-law, from whom my wife inherited a number of delightful qualities. Her motto went something like this: “As long as you keep movin,’ they can’t cover you up.”
Well, there are a lot of things that are closely related to attitude.
See you down the road.
Author and columnist Don Coldsmith lives in Emporia.