Passages
I haven't written in awhile (again). Life seems to be getting busier and busier, confirming what I was told repeatedly before I retired: you'll be so busy that you'll wonder how you ever worked.
Last night I taught my 'last' class for the 2017-18 school year. What a terrific ride this has been! I knew going into it that I would learn more from the people in my classes than they would learn from me, and this, too, has been confirmed. I'll be revising all my offerings, due in no small part to what participants have shared, the questions they have asked, their reactions to the presentation. I have been humbled by their bravery in expressing their concerns and heartened by how their fellow classmates confirmed the commonality of the concern, or stepped out of their comfort zone to relay their story and how they found ways to confront the issue, or continue to deal with it. That's when I personally feel the most successful--when the group turns to each other, willing to build on their wisdom, able to express their vulnerabilities. Wow. Sometimes, it knocks my socks off (even when I'm wearing Flip Flops).
There've been what I'm calling a few passages in my life over the past few months. I'm hesitant to call them changes although I suppose in essence that's what these are. Rather I'm framing them as passages from one aspect of daily moments to the next that follows right behind. In The Day After Retirement class I teach, it taught me to focus on the present and stay in the moment, which, in turn, is helping me strengthen a daily attitude of gratitude because there is so much to be grateful for, even when that attitude is challenged. That class, in particular, I found, is about the importance of reframing, especially when walking or skipping or running away from work and now, what happens, is all up to you. So much joy in that. And so much fear. And trepidation. It's a passage that you are responsible for, day in and day out. And, I've come to believe in the time I've been retired, it's all about how you personally frame it.
So. The passages.
1. The passage from being empty nesters to a Full House. As I write this, a toy dinosaur is watching me, seated next to a stuffed ambiguous gopher or squirrel or beaver that doesn't realize it's perhaps in mortal danger of being eaten by said dinosaur. A couple months ago I didn't have that company.
2. Grandma all the time and Grandma again. Being back in Minnesota means plenty of moments with all the grands. I've said this before and it just seems to get truer: nothing beats the greeting you get from one of your grandchildren. Even if they just saw you, they still act the same way the dog does when you come in the door--as if you are the best thing since sliced bread. Maggie and Pete will welcome their second baby and Georgia will become a big sister in mid October. It's been a while since I've been able to do some "baby sniffing," the single most delectable scent in the world.
3. Farewell to palm trees. Over Memorial Day we were in South Carolina and while walking the beach toward the end of our time there, it dawned on me that I won't be seeing palm trees for a while. Ah, I savored those moments on the beach. As a man we met down there said, any day you get can your feet in the ocean is a good day.
4. The garden. I love being out in the yard and putting in a vegetable garden. This year I planted right before we left for South Carolina and I was a little worried about how the plants would settle in. I'm pleased to report they appear to be quite happy living in the garden and I'm anticipating a bountiful crop come late August.
Cooking:
This comes from my youngest, Bridget. We were on Sloane Patrol one afternoon while she and Darin were at work. Darin came home for dinner; Molly and her boys joined us. Quick, easy, delicious. We all agreed this is a keeper.
Cheeseburger Sliders
1 lb. ground beef
1 c sharp cheddar, shredded
1/2 c mayo
1 packet Lipton Onion Soup mix
1 package King's Hawaiian slider buns
Hamburger pickle slices
1. Brown the ground beef.
2. Break up the onion soup mix so there are no chunks. Mix onion soup mix, cheddar and mayo in with the ground beef. If it seems separated, you can add more cheddar and mayo.
3. Remove the Hawaiian buns from the white container. Spray the bottom of the white container with PAM (or equivalent).
4. Slice the buns in half. Put the bottom half back into the container and coat the bottom half with the whole mixture. Put the top half back on.
5. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Put the buns in the white container on the cookie sheet and cover the entire thing with aluminum foil. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes.
6. Top each slider with a couple hamburger pickle slices and enjoy!
Last night I taught my 'last' class for the 2017-18 school year. What a terrific ride this has been! I knew going into it that I would learn more from the people in my classes than they would learn from me, and this, too, has been confirmed. I'll be revising all my offerings, due in no small part to what participants have shared, the questions they have asked, their reactions to the presentation. I have been humbled by their bravery in expressing their concerns and heartened by how their fellow classmates confirmed the commonality of the concern, or stepped out of their comfort zone to relay their story and how they found ways to confront the issue, or continue to deal with it. That's when I personally feel the most successful--when the group turns to each other, willing to build on their wisdom, able to express their vulnerabilities. Wow. Sometimes, it knocks my socks off (even when I'm wearing Flip Flops).
There've been what I'm calling a few passages in my life over the past few months. I'm hesitant to call them changes although I suppose in essence that's what these are. Rather I'm framing them as passages from one aspect of daily moments to the next that follows right behind. In The Day After Retirement class I teach, it taught me to focus on the present and stay in the moment, which, in turn, is helping me strengthen a daily attitude of gratitude because there is so much to be grateful for, even when that attitude is challenged. That class, in particular, I found, is about the importance of reframing, especially when walking or skipping or running away from work and now, what happens, is all up to you. So much joy in that. And so much fear. And trepidation. It's a passage that you are responsible for, day in and day out. And, I've come to believe in the time I've been retired, it's all about how you personally frame it.
So. The passages.
1. The passage from being empty nesters to a Full House. As I write this, a toy dinosaur is watching me, seated next to a stuffed ambiguous gopher or squirrel or beaver that doesn't realize it's perhaps in mortal danger of being eaten by said dinosaur. A couple months ago I didn't have that company.
2. Grandma all the time and Grandma again. Being back in Minnesota means plenty of moments with all the grands. I've said this before and it just seems to get truer: nothing beats the greeting you get from one of your grandchildren. Even if they just saw you, they still act the same way the dog does when you come in the door--as if you are the best thing since sliced bread. Maggie and Pete will welcome their second baby and Georgia will become a big sister in mid October. It's been a while since I've been able to do some "baby sniffing," the single most delectable scent in the world.
3. Farewell to palm trees. Over Memorial Day we were in South Carolina and while walking the beach toward the end of our time there, it dawned on me that I won't be seeing palm trees for a while. Ah, I savored those moments on the beach. As a man we met down there said, any day you get can your feet in the ocean is a good day.
4. The garden. I love being out in the yard and putting in a vegetable garden. This year I planted right before we left for South Carolina and I was a little worried about how the plants would settle in. I'm pleased to report they appear to be quite happy living in the garden and I'm anticipating a bountiful crop come late August.
Cooking:
This comes from my youngest, Bridget. We were on Sloane Patrol one afternoon while she and Darin were at work. Darin came home for dinner; Molly and her boys joined us. Quick, easy, delicious. We all agreed this is a keeper.
Cheeseburger Sliders
1 lb. ground beef
1 c sharp cheddar, shredded
1/2 c mayo
1 packet Lipton Onion Soup mix
1 package King's Hawaiian slider buns
Hamburger pickle slices
1. Brown the ground beef.
2. Break up the onion soup mix so there are no chunks. Mix onion soup mix, cheddar and mayo in with the ground beef. If it seems separated, you can add more cheddar and mayo.
3. Remove the Hawaiian buns from the white container. Spray the bottom of the white container with PAM (or equivalent).
4. Slice the buns in half. Put the bottom half back into the container and coat the bottom half with the whole mixture. Put the top half back on.
5. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Put the buns in the white container on the cookie sheet and cover the entire thing with aluminum foil. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes.
6. Top each slider with a couple hamburger pickle slices and enjoy!
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