Sunday, April 15

Friends

Yesterday afternoon I had lunch with two very dear friends I met early in my career. Jill and I are retired, while Alicia is struggling to make the leap. We get together for lunch about every month to catch up on what's happening. Jill and I see and talk with each other very often, but we only see Alicia at our luncheons.

While we try not to talk about our working days, this lunch was all consuming of work issues. I had made a comment recently to Jill that I was having trouble finding who I am. She brought this up at lunch. While we were working we would always introduce each other as Jane Doe, Director of Something or Another. That was "WHO WE WERE". It was never Jane Doe who loves to scrapbook, read, garden, blog, (you get the picture). For 20 years, I was Linda, Director of Something or Another. It seems the name and title were tattooed across my forehead. I was Something or Another, but who am I now?

Looking back when I first got married in the 60's I never liked being called John's wife. Even at that time I wanted my own identity. I knew who I was when I worked, but now I'm retired, who am I?

After we hashed over all the problems of the working world we were finally able to catch up on what is really important. After lunch we drove over to an antique market to do a little shopping. It's so good to get together with these ladies, and I'm so thankful I'm going to be able to sleep until 9:00 a.m. in the morning.

And, as far as who I am, I'm retired and loving every minute of it!!!

3 comments:

jmb said...

Hi
I noticed you over on my site so decided to visit you.
This sounds like the story of my retirement in that I have lunch with different friends and wonder who exactly I am now. Although I've been retired for 8 years now so I've become more used to it.
It's strange how what you do for your career somehow defines who you are and it takes some adjustment to realize you are the same person after you retire.
My husband is a retired university professor and I've noticed that he never elaborates that but just says he's retired. Somehow I always say I'm a retired hospital pharmacist.
Silly, isn't it?
Enjoy your retirement, friends are the thing that make life interesting.
jmb

Mauigirl said...

I would dearly love to retire. I'm 53 so probably am stuck awhile yet at the Big Corporation I work at. I would love to describe myself as a writer/blogger who is involved in historic preservation, animal rescue and community groups. I try to do all of these things now but work always gets in my way!

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

well i love retirement! i wonder how i ever had time to work though! we are very fortunate in that we invested well and are very comfortable in retirement and can travel. i love big cruise ships!!! well that is an understatement! i wish i could spend the rest of my life on one! thanks for visiting and come back soon....

smiles, bee