First DaysJul 26, 2011
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| FIRST DAYS! Well actually I guess the first, First Day was May 22 because the world was supposed to end on May 21st. (There was a question about whether to put all the effort into a retirement party.) Then there was Monday 5/23 when emotionally and physically worn out and grieving we dug in to marathon mode for the move (having actually been almost in that mode since Easter). Packing and moving was incredibly lonely and exhausting. We are grateful to a few diehard family and friends who stopped by for a day or several. It meant soooooo much in keeping our spirits refilled. Then Memorial Weekend passed – the days of our yard sale and BIG move. This brought the first day of being in our new home. (1 week until Brianna’s wedding – cooking trying to unpack around the edges and decide “what to wear”) Michelle was an INCREDIBLE help—always positive! Cooking – unpacking – listing things on Craig’s list… Antoinette and John put all sorts of pieces together, Anne and Bob accidently stopped by 2ce and worked and worked. Peter and Judy and Elli and Owen helped unpack things. Mellyn spent a day packing up our kitchen stuff. Glenn lent us his truck and organized efficient packing. Heather put out the recycling and trash several times. June 5th – the first day as husband and wife for Brianna and Bob – and finishing the packing to go on their honeymoon. Our First Day of dog sitting for our grand-puppy while they honeymooned :-) June 10th we return from a day at Shantia’s 40th college reunion to do our “last moving” another big rental trailer. Tireder and lonelier… Then back to Ocean Park to unpack and put away. A lovely short respite with our 3 adopted grandchildren the next weekend (was that the first days of real retirement?) – and then back at it. June 24th we had our last yard sale – a rainy day – not many sales but gave a lot to the Clinton Thrift Shop and arranged for some to be sold. Then came our truly “last move” and another trailer full. Followed by our First Day with most everything out of the Sterling house. We had a left a few things for auction and one desk to take to Lynne – but it was mostly empty – VERY sweet sadness… All the years of memories: growth and celebration, milestones and trauma. And for our extended family – years of celebrating Christmas and Birthdays and Easter and graduations. For the pastor’s family mostly the others had to come to us – so it became celebration central for the extended Wright family. The first day of our last week in our house before we had to be out for renters - and the grueling last day when we definitely exceeded the 2PM renters entry… After a week at my mom’s cottage on Great Pond of the Belgrade Lakes getting it ready to rent (more cleaning, sorting, packing and hauling recycling – Anyone looking for a nice little cottage on a lake to rent for a week?) We had our real first day of retirement when we left Rome to stay with Peter and Judy in Old Orchard Beach for about 5 days – a few errands to get ready for our trip and a little house maintenance on changeover day – but at least a few hours each day at the beach. After performing a wedding in a lovely backyard on July 16 and having a nice visit with Brianna and Bob that evening – we had the First Day of Retirement when we drove out to Middile Grove NY to visit with college friends Lauren and David. What a lovely farm, delicious meals, comfortable beds… Then we drove about 2,500 miles in 5 days and ended up in Glacier National Park. Sleeping in on Saturday morning, hanging out at our campsite all day – listening to a crazy good ranger talk and mountain goat impersonation – THAT WAS TRULY THE REAL FIRST DAY OF RETIREMENT! |
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