Monday, March 19, 2012

Short Shots

Isn't it strange when you hear or think or read of one thing and it brings back a memory from long ago about something else? Susan over at e-i-e-i-omg! did that for me today when she wrote something in her post about her car and driving.

It reminded me of when one of my aunts decided she wanted to get her driver's license when she was in her late forties/early fifties. None of her grown kids were willing to teach her how to drive nor would her husband. So she called a driving school and signed up.

And by gar, she got her license, the second or third time she took the test if I remember correctly. From then on she always complained that the only member of the family who would ride with her when she was driving was Coalie, their black lab. But that was okay, she said, pouting a little. Coalie was always willing and eager to ride shotgun with her.

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Speaking of dogs, our Zoey the Wonder Dog died a year ago next month. No, we haven't gotten another dog yet. It just hasn't been the right time. For about the last year or so of her life, she didn't seem comfortable riding long distances so we left her home when we went on day trips to the big city. She was happy home alone for the day catching up on her beauty sleep but always eagerly greeted us when we got home at the end of our long day.

Last week we trekked to the city on Wednesday and when we arrived home in the early evening, for that split second as we unlocked the door and let ourselves in, we both were about to call out, "We're home, Zoe! Come on out and go potty." I wonder how long memories and habits like that stay with you?

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I am so, so grateful we are able to pay our bills and meet our expenses on our retirement income. On a day to day basis we're both busier than hepped up bees doing a gajillion and one things around here and enjoying what we're doing. Last night as we were winding down for bedtime, I told Papa Pea how very glad I was that neither one of us had to go to work this Monday morning outside the home to supplement our income in these days of "retirement." I know it's not so with everyone in our age bracket these days. I'm so thankful that we're doing okay financially and able to be home together enjoying our days to the hilt. Amen!

14 comments:

Carolyn said...

My grandmother picked me up from the airport one year for my summer vacation (she lived in the boonies in OH, I lived in the 'burbs in Chicago) and her driving was INSANE! I remember being in the back seat and she whipped around a hairpin turn (lots of those in the foothills of S.E. Ohio) and I lost the Jolly Rancher candy I had in my mouth & it hit the window!!!
Oh, she still drives and has since had a stroke. (gawd help us all)

Amy Dingmann said...

It is good to be able to make ends meet like you do...and its good to remember to be thankful for that ability. :)

Chai Chai said...

Depends how you define work, I think you and Papa Pea work harder than the majority of folks out there.

It is wonderful that you can get by on what you have, it helps that you create some of your own wealth.

Anne said...

Hi, Mama Pea, Just found your lovely blog, and I'm a new follower ~ so nice to meet you!
Best,
Anne ♥♥

Leigh said...

Aw, so poignant about Zoey. They seem to stay in our hearts forever. And what a blessing to have health and enough income to live comfortably, doing what you enjoy. That made me happy to read. I'm praying for the same for us too.

judy said...

I SAW A PICTURE YESTERDAY AND IT AUTOMATICALLY BROUGHT ME TO ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE.THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING A LOT -I'LL REMEMBER MORE ABOUT THE PAST THAN SOMETHING I WAS SUPPOSE TO TEND TO 2 MIN. AGO--LOL ,DON'T WANT TO READ INTO THAT!HEY,i BET YOU 2 WORKED HARD ALL YOUR LIFE FOR THIS MOMENT ---RETIREMENT,WHEN IS IT GONNA START?

Mama Pea said...

CR - Great, laugh out loud picture you painted of the Jolly Rancher being ejected! You're just lucky it didn't go the other way and get inhaled. You could have been kilt! ;o]

Mama Tea - We still fantasize about what it would be like if we had adequate money to hire this done, that built. But then doesn't everybody?? :o]

Chai Chai - Yepper. And we haven't gone on many cruises lately either (haha) so that helps the budget! But we are happy doing what we're doing . . . and would NOT be happy on a cruise!

Anne - Hi, Anne! Welcome and thanks for commenting. Nice to meet you, too!

Leigh - You and your hubby so well deserve a great retirement. Just remember that "time to spare" and "retirement" on the homestead is an oxymoron!! (Hee-hee.)

Akannie said...

I am so happy for you, as you said--it's not often the case these days...

I still look for my Lucy..I don't know how long that takes to right itself...and I have 4 other dogs. They surely leave prints on our hearts that last forever...



Spring!!!! I'm grateful to live where and how we do too...and I think the lull of actual "retirement" would drive people like us crazy! lol BUT-- it really IS nice to not have to go anywhere else to work....

Susan said...

I used to always volunteer to ride with my Granny Vee - she was a hellion behind the wheel and it gave me such a thrill! I still see Woody and Tippet out of the corner of my eye. Such a long time with our friends - they never do leave us. Ah, how I envy you. Today was so beautiful, that the last thing in the world I wanted to do was get in my car and schlep to the city. Maybe some day....Hey! Do you and Papa Pea want to adopt another daughter?

Mama Pea said...

judy - Well, I guess our definition of retirement is not the same as it might be for others. Neither of us have any desire to "retire" in the conventional sense. We've both got too many interests and ideas of all we still want to do/accomplish. Yeah, some of it is work, I suppose. But it's what we want to do.

Akannie - We've only had three dogs (one at a time) but they all lived to be 12, 14 and 14. I always found myself occasionally calling each one by the previous one's name! We just get so used to having the furry hairballs around.

I guess we've all spent plenty of years going out to that job that wasn't very pleasant because of the people and/or environment. Now we just have to get along with our spouses! ;o]

Susan - The adoption papers are in the works! We could really use another hard-working slave . . . whoops, I mean daughter . . . around here! Seriously, you would be nothing but a delightful asset to anyone!

Cat Eye Cottage said...

I'm sure growing your own food helps in the retirement department. That's why I'm working hard now establishing my garden as an investment in my retirement future. Living simply with no debt helps too!

Mama Pea said...

Yup, growing your own food helps bunches with the budget but what most people don't realize (present company excluded, of course) is the amount of effort it takes to grow enough of everything for a whole year's supply! Gardening is HARD work and no matter how you try to streamline it, it still takes a lot of time . . . some years more than others depending on insect problems, lack of rain, etc. I love gardening for the exercise, the fresh air . . . the whole process and especially the harvest! If we have a berry harvest like last year, I'm planning on selling to a local restaurant that will take whatever we have to offer. (How'd I get off on THAT tangent??)

Erin said...

You are so smart to be able to live within your means and truly be able to have a "retirement" full of busy things of YOUR choosing!

Mama Pea said...

Sometimes we really wonder how we do it. I mean there's not much "extra" but we aren't lacking for anything . . . other than those things we would go ahead and do if we REALLY had a money tree!!