December 2022 – Postcards from Retirement

New Year’s Eve

We had a quiet but fun night at home. Rich made us a nice little smorgasbord of some of our favorite things, topped off by a homemade pear tart and some ice cream. At some point we had the TV on to watch the NYE festivities and some guys were talking about taking shots of alcohol. Knowing what a light drinker I am, Rich laughingly said “I’d love to see you taking a shot of tequila some time!” I said, “Okay, bring it on! Let’s do a shot!” I don’t know what got into me! So he poured us each a shot, we put salt on our hands, licked the salt, slammed the tequila, and finished up with a lime. I am proud to say I did fine and didn’t even choke. 🙂 I guess I am starting off the new year trying new things. hahaha We then played a competitive game of Upwords and watched the movie “Glass Onion” before switching over to watch the ball drop. After the many issues of the past few years, I am actually feeling a little hopeful about 2023. I want to see more love, more peace, more joy, and more justice in the world. Let’s make it so!

I found a fun book challenge online–you roll 2 dice and then go to the square matching the number you rolled. You can either choose one book for each number showing on the dice, add the two dice together to get one number, or use the number that the dice show if you place them side by side (for example, if you roll a 2 and a 3, you can go to square 2 AND square 3 for two books, or square 5, or square 23). I am really going to challenge myself to read more books this year. I still read a lot but it’s mostly articles online rather than full books any more. Lately I have enjoyed a few: Bono’s memoir is touching and enjoyable for any U2 fan like me, and Rob Delaney’s book about losing a child to cancer is heartbreaking but also sweet and funny. I follow Patti Smith on Instagram and wanted to get her “book of days” in which she adds one photo and some thoughts for each day of the year. I hate to admit I was never that into her music other than a few recognizable and memorable songs, but I love her writing and her spirit. I’ve read a couple of her other books which were interesting and thoughtful and moving. She just seems like a really good person and very kind and caring. Still out there touring, too, so maybe I will try to see her sometime. 🙂

I also received my new KUCB hoodie for supporting my former favorite job’s annual pledge drive. I always love getting that and a note and a sticker in the mail each year. 🙂

I’m not big on resolutions because in the end I always feel like I was setting myself up to fail with too many pressures and obligations. But I do want to read more books, knit more pieces, attempt to learn the piano that I was generously given by Lue and her daughter, and of course let’s get healthier in mind and body and spirit! Here’s to a wonderful 2023!

Merry Christmas from Tyler

Though the kids were at in-laws’ this year, Sarah and Miles were back in time to have Christmas Day at home. They invited us over for a fajita lunch (“we’re sick of the traditional meal!”) and gift exchange so we drove over to Tyler and spent the day with them. Elle had requested money but I’d also been reading articles about “TikTok recommended gifts” so along with her cash, I added a mascara that was “all the rage” right now. Beck is very much into performing, singing, making videos, writing scripts etc. so we got him another TikTok recommendation, a ring light and stand to be used with a phone while making videos (along with a little cash). Jack has been loving reading various book series so we got him a set of books I didn’t think I’d seen around their house, plus a yoyo kit and some cash. But as they say, “two out of three ain’t bad.” Elle loved the mascara, said she’d seen it on TikTok and had even looked for some to buy but couldn’t find any. So the cool Gigi cred was established! Honestly, it is embarrassing to admit how excited I was. 🙂 Beck immediately unpacked his box and went to work making a video–he was really happy with his gift, too, so I was even more thrilled with myself and my great ideas. Jack opened his, was not super interested in the yoyo set, liked the money, saw the books and said, “We already have these books!” I knew I should have asked Sarah if they had them but I just jumped on it and ordered them thinking they were unfamiliar. She tried to shush him but I said “that’s okay, I’m sorry and I will return those and get you something else!” He looked at his $20 bill and said “WELL, at least I got SOMETHING!” Oh my gosh, we all laughed so hard, though his parents tried to scold him that it was impolite and ungrateful to say such a thing. I said I totally get it, no big deal, and then he was contrite saying he “didn’t mean it like that.” Poor boy, I know it’s hard to be disappointed! Well, that took me down a notch, though I am still pretty proud of my other two picks. LOL Turns out the books are Beck’s and Jack hadn’t actually read them yet but they ARE in the house and he will read them soon. So I took the others back and now I need to think of something else for the kid but he had no suggestions and neither did his parents! Guess I’d better see what TikTok recommends for an 8 year old. LOL

We had a great fajita lunch, hung out and had a great time visiting, as always. Love these sweeties and any time we can have with them. Driving home in the dark on the back road through Canton, we had a guy with no headlights swerving around behind us. That was disconcerting and worrisome but he finally turned off. Hope he made it home okay! Then we got on I-20, which was pretty busy with trucks and holiday traffic, and saw a car on the shoulder with its flashers on. Passed him okay, then came upon another car on the shoulder with flashers on but no headlights. It was hard to see exactly what he was doing and at first he definitely looked like he was stopped. As we approached him, he started turning directly into our lane to reenter the highway at a super slow rate of speed while we were doing 70. Plus we could hardly see him with no lights on and the flashers were disorienting so it was kinda hard to tell just where he was. At the last minute, Rich had to swerve into the next lane to avoid hitting him and thankfully there were no cars next to us! We were both freaked out! Later the dude passed us on the left, then as we entered Hwy 80 to head toward Dallas, we saw him again at a near stand-still in the left lane! OMG. I was never so glad to get back to our house! We did see two ambulances heading in the opposite direction on Hwy 80 and were wondering if he’d ended up in an accident. I would not be surprised at all.

Other than that, we have had a very nice Christmas season and have enjoyed catching up with family and friends through notes and cards and texts and calls. Here’s hoping everyone has a lovely year ahead and that 2023 is more calm, more peaceful, more kind and caring, and more just for all.

Christmas Eve

Since the kids were all here for Thanksgiving, it’s their in-laws’ turn for Christmas. That makes for a quiet holiday for us, but quiet is nice sometimes, isn’t it? We were going to have Lue and Steven over for lunch for Christmas Eve since Lue’s sister was coming to town and taking them out for dinner. Unfortunately Rich was having trouble with his blood pressure being extra high after his doc changed his meds so he didn’t really feel like cooking, totally understandable. So I took Lue and Steven to Cracker Barrel at their request, had lunch, and then back to their facility to await Lue’s sister’s arrival. Rich and I had a nice dinner at home that night and exchanged our gifts while sending greetings to family and friends by text…the way of the world these days! I saw a funny meme of a teenager’s voicemail greeting, “I can’t come to the phone right now, but hang up and send me a text.”

Rich had wrapped up a big rectangular box for me and I couldn’t figure out what in the world it could be. He kept saying he thought I would really like it and I was wracking my brain. I was excited to find out he’d bought me a towel heating rack like we’d enjoyed in Iceland and Ireland. Woohoo! Nothing like getting out of the shower and having a nice, warm towel to wrap around. I bought him a couple of shirts, a new toiletry kit for travels, and several gadgets I’d seen advertised and thought he’d like. Lue’s sister Sue sent us a big tower of treats and Lue’s daughter Susan and wife Kris sent us some great smelling candles. I’ve been doing a little knitting. enjoying my hot tea on these cold days, and we cracked up at the SNL Christmas Special, including the all time fave music video of a “dick in a box.” LOL And, of course, we love all of the Christmas cards and notes that come in the mail this time of year!

Basketball

Granddaughter Ally is playing on the freshman basketball team at her high school so we headed out to Clyde/Abilene to watch a game. She was supposed to play at noon so we decided to go the night before instead of rushing in the day of. Susan, Corey and kids are in the midst of moving from one house to another so we stayed with our friend Karen and her two cute kitties (Jellybean and Josh, named by her granddaughter!).

The first night we went to dinner at Abuelo’s with Karen, Susan and Ally. Corey was in Brady getting a trailer to haul some of their furniture and Aidan was working. Sad we didn’t get to see them this time! At dinner, Ally said her game had been changed to 7 PM the next night instead of noon. We were intending to go to the 12 o’clock game and head straight home but with the time change, we decided to spend another night. I wasn’t keen on driving or riding home in the dark and we’d seen a bunch of dead deer on the way out to Abilene so I didn’t want to take any chances on literally running into one.

Everyone was at work the next day so we just chilled at Karen’s house till game time. We had to drive over to the metropolis of Merkel TX for the game–it was already dark so we couldn’t see much but it did not look like there was a lot going on. All I really know about Merkel is that one of my friends grew up there. 🙂

Ally’s team stayed tied with the Merkel team for most of the first half and then started falling behind. It was still a close game but they lost in the end. She is a tough defender and doesn’t mind getting right in people’s faces! Cracked me up! We had fun watching her play, though she says basketball and her coach are not her favorites and she is looking more forward to track season. 🙂

We were going to have early Christmas with the Clyde crew but since we couldn’t get everyone together, we decided to let it wait. They thought they might come to Dallas during the break but that is sounding less likely so I think I will just put their packages in the mail!

Pre Christmas

World Cup, some special holiday tea from France from our friend Kyle (in my notorious RBG cup), cold weather, wrapping presents, goodies from my mom….’tis the season.

Birthday and Early Christmas

I help take care of my ex’s aunt Lue and cousin Steven who have recently moved to assisted living. Lue’s daughter Susan and her wife Kris are good friends of ours and live out in California so I am the local point person, which I am happy to be. 🙂 Lue turned 85 on December 11 so we had them over for a light soup and salad lunch (oh, and cake, of course), as Lue’s sister was coming to town to take them to dinner that night. It was delicious and then we visited for a bit at the house before taking them back to their new place.

On the 13th, the facility had a family Christmas dinner so we went with them and enjoyed a nice meal, music and visiting. We had a man at our table for awhile who said he’d lived there about a year and a half because his wife “put him there and went to Colorado to live with their daughter.” Kinda sad but who knows the full story. Then he got moved to a different table and another woman joined us with her son and daughter in law. She has been at the facility for 7 years and was still sharp as a tack mentally but had a lot of physical issues because she had fallen down the stairs from the second floor of her home and apparently laid on the floor for a very long time before being found. She had serious injuries and doesn’t have any use of one arm and hand. Both of their situations really made me think about all of the perils and complications of getting older!

Soccer in Shreveport

We took a little road trip to Shreveport to watch Elle’s school team in a tournament. They won easily the first night and she had the first 3 goals in the first few minutes, then another one later. No, we are not braggy grandparents at all. 🙂

We stayed in the same hotel with the kids; when we arrived, none of the key cards were working so we had to wait to be escorted by a staff member to each of our rooms. Elle stayed with the team and the rest of us went out to dinner and wandered along the water, also went into a huge Bass Pro Shop where Jack got to talk with Santa. 🙂 Sarah, Miles and the boys went back to the hotel while Rich and I tried our luck (and failed) at one of the casinos. Thankfully, we know when to cut our losses and just walk away. 🙂

The next morning, Elle’s team was in the finals and had a hard fought game against some really rough girls. Several yellow cards were pulled and one girl got a red card and had to sit out. I was down at the edge of the bleachers trying to get close enough to get some better photos and parents from the other team would not stop heckling the refs and hollering out about every call. One of the refs was a young guy in a “man bun” and they kept making fun of him, saying his pony tail holder must be cutting off the oxygen to his brain. Eventually the refs had enough, called in a supervisory ref, stopped the game and sent both teams to their benches while they conferred, and came back to kick those parents out. I had never witnessed that level of harassment in any of Elle’s games. Hard to imagine these “adults” didn’t have better manners and coping skills!

Elle’s team won the tournament and she was high scorer for the weekend. Rich and I headed back to Dallas at the end of the game–not a bad drive, about 3 hours, so it’s equivalent to going to Abilene for us.

Friends

We had lunch near DFW with Karen, Kaci and Kyle before Kyle flew back to France. He is living the good life on a little country farm with his wife Ingrid and some goats and chickens and dogs, working in a bakery, riding his bicycle here and there. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?! We hope to go visit one day.

December

I haven’t been walking much lately but finally headed out the door for a couple of miles around the neighborhood. I love this time of year when it’s chilly but not too cold, the leaves are finally changing, and lots of colors swirl around. The little details make me happy.

Soccer Tournament

Rich has been serving on a federal jury so I went over to Tyler by myself for Elle’s school soccer tourney. I know I am a proud grandparent but the girl really is talented and one of the best scorers (if not THE best) on her team! Really fun to watch, and they won all three games over the two days I was there. I spent one night and enjoyed hanging out with the kids.