I didn't include more details in the prior "The Cruise" post for two reasons. 1) I didn't think anyone would be interested; and 2) This trip didn't include much of the normal topics: good beer, good coffee or John-style travel. But there are details, which may be useful to some people contemplating how such a trip is put together. On the first day of the trip, we drove three hours to pick up my mother in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At 85, she isn't comfortable driving for long distances and hadn't flown for many years. We then drove 3 1/2 more hours to Chicago, where we checked into the Wyndham, where you can get a room that includes the cost of parking for up to 12 days. We were up early on the hotel shuttle to O'Hare, where we then boarded the a non-stop American Airlines flight to New Orleans. Here, we checked into a Hampton Inn near the port. My mother was pretty tired, so Julia and I went out for a Cajun dinner and live music. Rememberi...
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Early, early retirement
This past week had its ups and downs. Julia was beginning to count her final days at the eye clinic. All year, she's been saying good-bye to patients who she has seen for over thirty years. We laugh because some of them tell her that she's too young to retire or that she isn't allowed to retire because they don't want to switch vision providers.
Many of Julia's peers in the profession plan to continue working indefinitely. I've been pushing her to retire early for the past several years so that we can see more of the world while we are still active and healthy. I would much rather live on a little less each year than live on more but be tied down to a job. In fact, I'm convinced that I could live on a lot less. Julia isn't willing to go quite that far.
Things definitely changed after Julia sold her remaining ownership share to her former partner about a year ago. She became, as she says, just another worker bee. The complication of Covid didn't make the year any easier.
On Monday, with only two weeks left until her official retirement, Julia called and said that she was coming home for good. Her former partner had just tested positive for Covid, and the clinic would be closed during Julia's remaining two weeks. It wasn't the ending that she expected.
Plus, because the former partner had worked the entire week until feeling symptoms and then testing positive, Julia had some exposure risk. She was confined to quarantine in the lower level bedroom and bathroom until recently receiving negative test results.
That's one dart dodged. There are a couple more to dodge ahead. Against my advice, my daughter Allie came home for Christmas. She works remotely anyway, but I didn't think it was a good idea due to the enhanced risk. Julia and Allie disagreed, so she is here. Allie will wear a mask for awhile, and we'll see. She says that the plane was uncrowded, and that she stayed masked from door-to-door.
After New Year's, my son Justin has his annual full day of doctor visits and tests at the hospital. I know that every precaution will be taken, but the hospital just doesn't seem like a great place to spend time in right now. Almost all of Justin's medical visits have been by video conference or telephone this year, but there are certain tests that need to be done in person.
My hiking has been limited this week to in-town sunrise walks. I've been a bit anxious. Callie says I just need more outdoor time.
Yeah, I was working solo for Justin without backup for awhile. I'm grateful Julia tested negative. The eye clinic is pretty darned careful. All staff and patients are masked up. Social distancing is enforced as much as possible. There's extra air filters installed. All staff have now tested negative, except for the one doctor. That makes me think she got the virus outside the office However, the office will remain closed for eye exams until after Christmas. Allie goes in for her test on Wednesday.
My brother travels the world as a high-level schmoozer in the military-industrial complex (a traitor to our family name!) so I understand his interest in never retiring. But the guy who owned the auto repair shop where Phoebe is cared for said he wanted to go fishing. He came down with prostate cancer two years before he sold the business, but the new owner -- who sees him monthly to make payment -- says he's is still at home...even though he's fully recovered.
I just started reading *The Baroness,* by Hannah Rothschild (mentioned on Stargoose and Hangland's blog). She shares that Nica's advice was: "There's only one life."
I have a brother who basically works two full time jobs in which the primary focus is to deny benefits. I ran into one of the guys who was on the unpleasant end of that who recognized my last name and wanted to know if we were related. It was an interesting conversation. The other gentleman also had a severely disabled son.
I read a little about Nica after a google search. It's interesting how different people choose to pursue the "only one life" philosophy. Some do it well; others, not so much. There are a few old skeletons in my family closet who didn't live it so well and died, alone and unwell. I'll try to avoid that fate. :-)
Allie tested negative for Covid. She is getting Justin up this morning, while we prepare Christmas breakfast and gift-opening. Merry Christmas!
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So I guess you were the sole caretaker for a while then.
My brother travels the world as a high-level schmoozer in the military-industrial complex (a traitor to our family name!) so I understand his interest in never retiring. But the guy who owned the auto repair shop where Phoebe is cared for said he wanted to go fishing. He came down with prostate cancer two years before he sold the business, but the new owner -- who sees him monthly to make payment -- says he's is still at home...even though he's fully recovered.
I just started reading *The Baroness,* by Hannah Rothschild (mentioned on Stargoose and Hangland's blog). She shares that Nica's advice was: "There's only one life."
I read a little about Nica after a google search. It's interesting how different people choose to pursue the "only one life" philosophy. Some do it well; others, not so much. There are a few old skeletons in my family closet who didn't live it so well and died, alone and unwell. I'll try to avoid that fate. :-)
Allie tested negative for Covid. She is getting Justin up this morning, while we prepare Christmas breakfast and gift-opening. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you all!