In a message dated 11/21/2000 6:59:40 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
> If I ever even get a job, I may regret retirement.
>
I am retired Chester, and I can tell you that It truly is a two-edged sword.
My last work day was May 7, 1999. I have had more than one dream about being
late for work. They are the kind of dreams where you can't get to a place
you need to get to, or finish something you need to finish. In my dreams, I
am taking a shower and no matter what I do I can't seem to finish the stupid
shower. I know I am going to be late for work. While I'm finally driving to
work in the dream, I'm panicking about being late the entire time. In this
dream, I always remember driving on the highway past the place where I can
clearly see the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument. When I get to
work, I am praying that the boss isn't there yet and won't know that I am
late.
Then, I wake up. For a split second, I panic because I know that I am very
late. Suddenly it hits me that I am retired, and the feeling is like "WOW!
I don't have to go to work anymore!" Whoa! What a relief!
But I will tell you this: I miss the action. I miss the fast pace of my work
days. I miss going in the field, going down manholes and hanging out on
roofs making sure that they guys are wearing fall protection (I was an
occupational safety and health specialist when I retired). I miss the
stOOpid staff meetings that I used to hate. I miss teaching safety classes,
and fire protection classes. I miss going from one job to the next -- my
nighttime and weekend retail job, and being on top of both. I miss selling
bird feeders at my second job, being able to handle the store by myself no
matter how busy it was, and I even miss cleaning the toilet at the store. I
loved to do anything I could do to make my bosses life easier. Man, my work
life was GREAT! It was SUPERB!
I really loved to work, and it's hard not to have a job and not to be needed
or wanted in the workplace. Is that what you are feeling right now? It's
hard not to be able to work everyday, and to know that depending on the day,
I am too physically undependable to be employable. It was a real loss to be
pushed out of the workplace by both employers at the same time. "Why didn't
they just kill me fast and get it over with?" I have been known to ask that
in the privacy of my thoughts.
Chester old buddy, I have seen those people who have conditioned themselves
to think that their quality of life stops the second they enter the
workplace. What miserable lives they must have! I remember a brief time a
few years ago when I had a new boss who ran me to death for a couple of
months. She really wore me out. Then one day she called me in her office.
When I sat down she told me that she really appreciated how I had kept pace
with her demands and how glad she was to be able to depend on me.
No monetary reward could have given me more pleasure than in knowing that my
boss could depend on me. I could look at myself in the mirror, and I felt
good going home everyday. But when I got a new boss who didn't have those
leadership skills, I could still feel good everyday because no matter what he
said or did to me, I still had a job to do. I still had to look at myself in
the mirror. If I kept a worker from falling off a roof, or suffocating in a
manhole with bad air, I could absolutely feel good even if my boss didn't
appreciate his staff.
I don't know why I'm saying all of this Chester, but I want to share one
thing: When you get hired someplace, and you will get hired, appreciate your
job, even if your boss treats you like crap. Nothing can take the place of
going home everyday knowing that you did the best you could, and that you
were dedicated to your duties. There is a personal pride in that knowledge
to which I can find no comparison.
Even though I am retired now, and at such an early age (42), I can still feel
good. I have great work memories to look back on.
Man O man, did I prattle on here or what?
Enjoy life the best way you can,
Betty
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