As with many Sunday afternoons, the water color paints were gathered from the Imagination Station located at the far end of the Sun Room where they stayed tucked away with everything needed to create. Canvas in different sizes. Brushes...so many brushes. Sponges...fresh ones and used ones. Color Pens in varying light and deep colors. Acrylics and Tempera. Drawing Pads. Etc., etc.
All needing a bigger place to call home...
Today, the water colors seemed a good choice because of the outside wet conditions. And Paige was absent. It was just Grams and Annabelle. Mostly known as "Warner". Our Little Bit...
She began creating before Grams had a chance to start. Because, well...Grams was busy collecting the add-ons needed to create. Cups of water. Towels to blot brushes that needed a color change after swishing in the cleaning water. And possible snacks. Sometimes, snacks are needed to think.
We didn't use protective wear. Rarely do.
But that's not the story...
This is:
Q. 1) "Grams, why did you retire?"
It was an unexpected question that came out of the blue. It's been a year, four months, and two days since retirement dragged me away from a 50+ year career, and to my recollection, she has never asked about this before today.
A. "I'm not totally sure, Annabelle. I guess I got tired and just went for it."
Reality was, I never quite fully embraced renting a suite over owning the building I did business in. I never fully embraced having to depend on someone other than myself to fix what needed fixing. Like temperature control that I wasn't permitted to have.
Trivial to some...just not to me. I was used to making sure clients were comfortable and that meant I, too, would not have to dread going to work knowing the area worked in was going to be way too warm for the length of time spent there. And then add the heat of hair dryer activity, and it could become uncomfortable pretty quickly. "Leave your door open," was the solution recommended. That wasn't an option for me because then, privacy wouldn't be available to my clients...and that's one of the things they loved. And the noise (and endless chatter of so many) of all the other suites that needed their doors open as well, was just a bit too much. "Use a fan," was the next "solution". What do you think happens when a fan is blowing inside a closed-in room, while cutting hair? 🙄 I won't even address the craziness of this idea. So, we endured the temp. Mostly. I DID try other ideas. My own ideas. Nothing worked good enough.
It had become a many-years-long battle. So when a "suite update" was about to happen, everything inside the room had to be removed. Including what was inside storage areas. All drawers and cabinets. Plus a very heavy piece I had purchased for added storage, and a check-out cabinet my husband had made for me. Yes...my room was full. There was a lot to remove and then re-install, and being on a tight schedule, a decision had to be made. Quickly...
I was about to turn 78 years old. Didn't feel what I thought a senior citizen should feel like, still having plenty of strength and soundness of mind (according to some) to do what my hands had attended to for so long. And the client base remained strong.
You've heard the old addage, "It was the straw that broke the camels back," right? So many thoughts to juggle, with no apparent change in sight, and having searched out other alternatives, I decided it would be a good time to just join my husband in retirement, thinking I would figure it out. It was a weak moment...
Of course, I didn't tell Annabelle all that. My answer to her was short and simple.
But it did get me thinking about the choice I had made over a year ago. I don't regret the decision. It's given me time to consider what my purpose is. Now...in this season of life. Yet there are times I miss the interaction with such amazing clients that had walked through my door over the years.
Q. 2) "Grams, why haven't you decorated for Halloween yet? Are you going to put the cute spooky ghosts out this year? " (They're rather large and hang from our Crape Myrtle tree)
My first thought was, Halloween? It's only the beginning of October. Wait! Halloween is just a few weeks away. Heads up, y'all...it's what happens once you retire. You lose all track of time. True statement...
A. "Yes, baby. I'll get on that this week. And the graveyard you like. I'll probably do that as well. And the floating ghosts holding hands. But I can't have halloween decorations inside my house."
Q. 3) "Why not?"
A. "They scare me when I get up in the middle of the night." After wanting to know why, she was satisfied. I think.
Over the years, the decorations have grown. But nothing will be added this year. I hope...
I know. I know! Some of you will wonder why. Why decorate if you don't like halloween? Why give in? It's actually a good question to ask. I had the same question roaming around inside my brain for the first couple of years. Along with many other questions. I battled with all I had been taught growing up and what God must think about all this. Then finally decided I could accept it by knowing that God knows me. We've had a lot of conversations about this.
And also...having my grand daughters love coming to see Grams and Gramps because they can manipulate us (to an extent), is a bonus. (Said with a twinkle in my eyes and a smile on my face...)
And that's all that matters to me...
As always, here you will find me...in Mary's World.
