"The End of an Era"

Well, I got up at 4AM for the last time this morning. Got into my car and off I drove to meet my car poolers at K Mart parking lot. Same routine, down Rt 2 to Rt 128 and pulled into the N&D parking lot.

I spent most of the morning cleaning out my desk and taking things of personal nature to my car. Everyone saying their goodbyes to me and wishing me well in the future years to come. Very emotional day and I will be very glad to finally leave the parking lot for the last time. I am blogging at work on their time today as I have nothing to do, but must stay to take my car poolers home. I guess I did not plan this very well.

I am excited about retirement and going to see my family in California. My Son and his family will join us from Utah. That should be a fun time at the Family Reunion. We are having it at Folsom Lake. I remember going there often growing up. In fact when I was a senior in High School I cut class with two of my classmates and we spent the day at Folsom Lake. My Dad was an educator at the High School I attended caught me red handed and I got suspended from school for three days. The others had there parents write them notes excusing them from class, but good old Dad wanted to teach his daughter a lesson. It is beautiful there at the lake. I can't wait to see it again.

I just got a message from My Daughter-in-law. She wants me to retire in Utah and visit my Hubby on holidays and every 5th Sunday. I may just consider that option as you could not blast Hubby out of New England. He is a Damn Yankee, you know. I am sick of the cold weather, the black flies and the humidity. Fall is the best time of the year in New England. I could come back for the Fall and stay in Utah. Hmmm! Something to think about.

I just called my sister Betsy at her work to discuss plans on picking me up at the San Francisco Airport and the progress on our Family Reunion. (can you tell I am bored and have nothing to do) We talked and talked and then she said "Joanne, I know that you don't have a job anymore, but I do, goodbye".

Well it is almost time to pick up my belongings and head out the door for home. My car poolers await me for my last ride home from the Good Old N&D. See ya later everyone. It has been great knowing all of you and working with all of you, but like they say, all good things must come to an end and the end has finally come. Bye Bye!!!!!

"Countdown- 3 more Days"

Well, the count down begins for my final departure as a full time employee at the good old N&D. Friday, June 29th 2007 is my last day of employment. Bitter-sweet emotions fill my head at this time. The decision has been made and there is no turning back. Hmmmm! What is next?

Yesterday, I had a dentist appointment in the early morning (yuk) and on the way back to work, I stopped in to see about a job opportunity that was knocking at my door. This is an Insurance Agency in a small community near home. Seems nice the people were great to talk to. First, I met the Big Guy, Mr. Murphy. Jovial and very friendly. Seem ok so far! Then I met Miss Jones the young HR Manager with her three piece suit and high heels with matching Coach bag. The interview begins. Now mind you, I have conducted countless interviews in my career and this one , I could tell was going to be a nightmare. First came the personality test. I guess I passed that with flying colors, stupid as it was. Then the questions. "Joanne, What is your greatest accomplishment"? (to make it through this interview, I thought) "Joanne what motivates you"? (God, I always hated that question) "Joanne, Where do you want to be in 5 years?" ( this one really got me. RETIRED! Hello??? Joanne. What are you doing here?)

Well, I said my goodbyes and graciously thanked everyone for their time and exited the building, went back to my car and just pondered and reviewed what had just taken place. Joanne, (I talk to myself at times when I am confused about things) what the heck are you thinking? You are retiring! Go home and review your options again. So I did just that. I came home, fixed myself a glass of the red stuff (not cool-aid) and reviewed my options. After carefully reviewing all areas of my Wheel of Life,(took a course in Personal Development) and I determined that this retirement thing that I am embracing is really going to work out for me. I don't have to get another job if I don't want to. I can stay home, join the local college's health facility and relax. What a great feeling and I am doing just that. I leave for California in July to spend time with the family and old friends, return to work for a few months then... RETIREMENT! Yeepie!

I do plan on doing something with my time, but it won't be in Insurance. Perhaps a career change is in order. I know, I'll hang a shingle out and counsel Women whose hearts have been broken. I am a good listener and have a basic understanding in relationships that do not work out. My friend came over to my home, sat down in our large recliner and began to shared her sad experience with me. I listened to her sad story on how she was just dumped by her boyfriend with complete empathy. Then I said, with much sincerity and compassion in my heart, "He's a Jerk, dump Him." She then looked at me with total disbelief and said, "But I Cried a River". I then said, "Build a bridge and get over it". I don't think that was the response she was looking for and perhaps I should re-think my career goals in the field of relationships and romance.

Oh well, whatever I decide to do with my time I am sure it will be productive and fun. Maybe I will write a book. I sure do have alot of material to write about. It has been an interesting 59 years here on earth and I sure hope to have a lot more years to follow. Goodbye N&D, Route 2, Route 128, car poolers. It's been a great ride, but I'm not going to miss you.(except my car pool buddies, of course)

"Lobstah and the Brown Paper Bag, Come on Down"

Every Fathers Day our Son drives his Harley Davidson into the yard with a brown paper bag strapped behind him. The brown paper bag is very large and partially wet. Our Son slings his leg over the seat, takes off his helmet and unwraps the brown paper bag which is secured to the bike. He proudly marches up the walk with the brown paper bag under his arm pit and hands his traditional Fathers Day gift to his Dad. You guessed it. A hugh lobstah weighing in at approximately 10 lbs. Our Son always picks the largest Lobstah he can find as he knows that is his Fathers favorite thing in the world to eat. He salivates when he sees his Son on Fathers Day because he knows what he will be eating that day. He never shares the Lobstah with his better half, either. He boils up the water, puts that poor Lobstah head first in boiling water and cooks it until done to perfection. He then sits down with drawn butter on the side, a non alcoholic beer, a smile on his face, and he is in his glory feasting on the poor old Lobstah.

It just does not seem right that the 10 pound Lobstah should die of such a horrible death. He is approximately 75 years old and in a matter of seconds he is dead. It usually takes 5-7 years for a Lobstah to reach 1 pound. This old Lobstah was around when the Yo-Yo was introduced, the First Class Stamp was 2 cents, Popeye made his debut, Herbert Hoover was President, Stock Market Crash/Great Depression begins, Dick Clark was born, the NY Yankees put numbers on the back of uniforms and Penicillin was first used to fight infections. Just doesn't seem right.

Do you think I am just a little jealous that I am not offered just a little taste of the Lobstah? Well, I am jealous. It is my favorite thing to eat too. All I get for Mothers Day is a hanging plant that I seem to kill in a matter of days. Not that I am not appreciative of the plant but, just once, would I like to see that Harley Davidson come down our driveway on Mothers Day with the same brown paper bag affixed to the back of the bike. Maybe next year?

"Green, Green, Grass of Home"

My Hubby felt sorry for me Saturday, when I dragged out the old lawn mower. I am the one in the family that does all of the yard work. Always have and always will. Don't feel sorry for me as I love it and it is my choice to do so. However, there are times that mowing the lawn, with this antique lawn mower is not the most pleasurable experience in the world. Especially, if you have had too many birthdays and have had too many aches and pains lately. I bet you that this relic is all of 15 years old. Hubby bought it at a yard sale so the age is really a mystery. It could very well be 20 or 25 years old. Every year when I drag it out of our storage shed it starts right up. No priming or hard to start pulls, just purrs like a kitten. It never fails me. It is not a self propelled one though, and through the years it is really hard to push.(like I said, too many birthdays) Last year I really thought it was the end of the mower. I backed up my car and ran over it. The wheels flattened out like a pancake and I thought for sure it was time to take it to lawn mower heaven. I gave it to a friend of mine that was to take it to the dump. I said my farewells and kissed it goodbye as I watched it go down the driveway. The next day, my friend returned with the lawn mower. He said he fixed the wheels and it started right up. I just can't seem to get rid of that old thing. I thought for sure this was the year I was getting my new lawn mower.

Hubby came home with a surprise for me in the back of his truck. It was a beautiful new green lawn mower with all of the bells and whistles you could imagine. It is self propelled, has a bag catcher, it mulches and does just about everything a real lawn mower should do. Hubby started it right up and away he went for a dry run. Ouch!!! I heard this loud, horrible noise. Hubby ran over something and the mower stopped. Now, Hubby never reads the instruction manual that comes with our new purchases. He is of the mind set that he can figure it out. Apparently, there is a kill switch somewhere on that machine that he can't find to start up the machine. I said, "read the instruction manual, Dear". "Not to worry, I will figure it out".

Well, I had things to get down that day and could not wait for Dear Old Hubby to figure it out. Soooo! I started up old faithful and finished my lawn like I had done for the past 15 years. Although I know that Hubby will figure it out eventually, and I mowed my lawn with the old fella for the last time, it was kinda sad to finally say goodbye to an old friend.

Ya know, I think I will keep the old mower and make it a lawn ornament. Maybe place a pot of flowers on its carb, or something. I think it has earned a place on the green, green grass of home.

"Traveling Down Life's Highway"

On December 28, 2001, Hubby loaded up his horse trailer and headed for Ohio to pick up two horses that he just purchased. While traveling on interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, Hubby was involved in a 56 car pileup. A white out occurred unexpectedly and all of a sudden, Hubby saw all of these cars in front of him sprawled all over the road. He attempted to avoid the cars but was unable to pass safely. He came to a halt and then the cars in back of him just kept hitting him and each other. A large Mac Truck carrying gasoline exploded and caught our trailer and other vehicles on fire. 8 people, including a 2 month old baby died as a result of this horrible accident. Thankfully, Hubby only had bumps and bruises as a result of the accident.

For the past 6 years we have been in litigation due to this accident. 8 law suits were filed against us. Several trips to Pennsylvania for depositions and many sleepless nights thinking we would lose our home and everything we have worked so hard for. It has been a nightmare for us to endure, as I am sure it has been for the victims families.

Yesterday, while traveling home from work, my cell phone rang. It was our Attorney representing us in the law suits. " Hi Joanne, this is Chuck. I have some good news for You and Frank. The cases against you have been settled. I have obtained full releases and it is finally over." I wanted to cry with happiness. Such a burden has been lifted from our shoulders. It is finally over. What a great feeling.

Many good things have happened during this past year that have been wonderful and life changing. The fact that the law suits have been settled is such a relief. Taking early retirement. Meeting new and old friends. And the best thing of all, My Son Darrell, who has put joy back in my heart.

Traveling down life's highway can be dangerous and hurtful if you don't know how to avoid the road bumps.I have hit some of them head on in my life time, but always seem to bounce back and continue on with my journey where ever it is taking me.

Well, this blog certainly was serious in nature, wasn't it! Sometimes you just gotta express yourself, I guess!

" Pure and Natural"

Today I had a hair appointment after work,(my Grand Child, Kelsi Rae, thought I should color my hair and get rid of the grey. Soooooooo! I am now a bleached blonde hussy that will have a root problem in about a month. If you believe that, you don't know my Hubby. Mr. Ivory Soap, Pure and Natural, no perfume allowed, kinda of a guy. His moto is "If God wanted you to have a hole in your ear, He would have put one there".


25 Years ago, when Hubby and I met, I had a very nice soft fragrance Perfume that I loved. I would place it behind my ear, ever so gently, and off to work I would go, thinking I would leave the scent of intrigue and romance in the house when he returned from work. I am afraid, just the opposite happened. As our relationship became more comfortable( as all new relationships eventually do) he told me that he did not want me to "stink". Hello? stink? I was trying to be, how should I say, somewhat appealing to him, and he said I "stink. He even threw my lovely fragrance out of the window on the Mass Pike one night to make his point.

Ok, I realize that compromising is a plus in a new relationship and I did just that. No more stinky perfume for me. Just Ivory Soap and Pure and Natural just to please my Man. So I adjusted to what would be a non stinky kind of relationship.

25 Years later....... Hubby just came in for dinner with Horse Manure on his boots. Hello????? You smell very stinky, Dear... "Yes, Dear, but it is Pure and natural".