I’m 67 years old and am now an orphan. I guess. My father recently joined my mother this year in their family plot, in the small prairie town where they both grew up, married, then left for their lifetimes as a military family. In retirement, after four children cast off along the way, they circled … More Grief. Again. Always.
You know you’re a military brat when… There are many ways to finish this thought. One way that I experienced this past week with my husband (and former brat himself, now a retired military veteran) while on a couple days getaway, is this. You are travelling, sight-seeing in a new area about a day’s drive … More You Know You’re a Military Brat when…
I re-read the earlier post about retirement in Year 6 musings, and must admit, it’s been an eventful year of change since. As noted before, by about years 5-6-7, I no longer felt, nor do I now feel, “retired”. I’m just living life at the stage I find myself. Retirement goals of becoming a published … More Retirement Musings Year 7
An Author Experiment 2023 is more than half over. Now in my mid-60s, my own life is more than half over. No regrets, just surprise sometimes as I contemplate that. Like most of you, the past few years have been challenging, but again, like most of you, (hopefully), I’ve come through and am enjoying the … More Book Sales Direct
Mother’s Day 2023 sure feels different this year. I realize I’ve been celebrating/grieving/recognizing/ignoring this calendar day for 65 years now. My father introduced me to the celebration. “Come on, kids, make mom breakfast in bed!” So burnt toast and Dad’s bitter coffee with all 4 of us jumping on her bed and waking Mom up … More Mother’s Day Through My Ages
I’ve been elsewhere in my life for a few months, even almost years. Elsewhere from my retirement avocation of author, that is. You remember Michele Sabad, the former army brat? The air force wife and hockey mom? Now retired in her kids’ hometown of Aylmer, Quebec? The one who wrote 3 books about that journey, … More May 2023 and the living is (getting) easy(er)
I turned 64 today. May 2-4, always a long weekend, and usually great weather, and a great time. But today I feel… not melancholy, not sad, but…reflective is the probably the best word. Suddenly, without my noticing, I’m in my mid-60s. Not elderly, but, let’s say, if I wasn’t already retired, I would be soon … More Another Turn Around the Sun
This coming June, I will have been retired for 5 years. How time flies! My grandmother warned me that the older you get, the faster the years go by, and although I couldn’t imagine that in my youth, impatient for those life goals: the new baby’s arrival, the mortgage paid off, the kids finally moving … More Retirement. Another Pandemic Issue.
No matter how locked up we are, no matter how screen-confined we’ve become, no matter that we have nowhere to dress for, a motto for my consumer generation could be: “Have internet, and credit card, will shop.” I’m not a big clothes horse or shopper anymore. I was young enough once, and poor enough once, … More Pandemic Clothes Shopping
If you’re like me, a healthy 60-something in retirement, then you understand when I say, this pandemic has sure put a stop to the plans I had. To be fair, I’m sure it’s changed the plans of well, everybody in the whole wide world, but I can only speak for myself here. And plans for … More Spend More in Retirement (Part 2. Pandemic)
Stevie Szabad, Author 