Random thoughts on 2022

Time to make some changes

As I recall (a questionably valid consideration), 2022 started with a lot of promise. Pfizer kept coming out with the magic elixir I was more than happy to have injected making me start to think I was bulletproof to Covid. Fortunately, my status as a Covid “Super-dodger” continues in spite of everyone around me falling victim to this plague, though no serious consequences, so far. Overall, we are fairing well.

The year was not without it’s challenges and heartbreaks, of course. Some serious and others of our own making. Personally, the saddest was Mom’s passing this October just a week from her 95th birthday. She did have a very nice life for 94.5 years, but I would not wish the her last 6 months on anyone. She led a purposeful life and was a joy to so many people. We should all be so accomplished.

My personal challenge this year was convincing myself to fully retire and understand why letting go has been so difficult. Hell, a 49-year career is about long enough. The need to feel relevant was the underlying motivation to keep going with part-time work, but why was that so important to me? I suppose being in a position at this late stage of my career where I could bring a needed expertise to the organization was very gratifying and hard to leave. However, when business conditions changed to lessen that need it was easier to see the end. After leaving the workforce in June I spent the rest of the year sitting around aimlessly wondering what the hell do I do now. While I tried hard to prove her wrong, I have to admit Darryl was right when she said, “You can’t go fishing everyday.”

We celebrated our grandson Ryan’s 11th birthday recently, which was an opportunity to reflect on the past few years of raising a child in our senior years. While I enjoy having a guy around to goof with, having grown up with sisters and having daughters, it is still a challenge to muster the energy you need to parent a youngster. Grandma, on the other hand, has immersed herself into the important stuff, like school and extra-curricular activities. The circumstances that bring him to our care do not appear to have a positive resolution in the foreseeable future and we are settling into the long haul. He hasn’t fallen in love with fishing, but he loves riding along with Grandpa in the boat and even allows him make a few casts from time to time. He does like camping and hiking, so plans are being formulated for summer 2023, which might offer an opportunity to introduce him to Grandpa’s addition to fly fishing.

He hasn’t fallen in love with fishing, but he loves riding along with Grandpa in the boat and even allows him make a few casts from time to time. He does like camping and hiking, so plans are being formulated for summer 2023, which might offer an opportunity to introduce him to Grandpa’s addiction to fly fishing. He and I need to negotiate with Grandma concerning summer educational programs.

So, 2022 ended with my commitment to get myself into better shape. After so many years of letting work be an excuse to avoid exercise and assuming yard work and minor house projects was enough, I have committed to getting in the gym regularly. I have an energetic 11 year old to keep up with; who is getting bigger by the moment and harder to wrestle with. Wish me luck.