Well it was of my own doing – or “undoing” would be a better way to put it.  Last year while I was easing into my retirement, I continued to work part time hours cleaning up old projects and doing odds and ends either from home or occasionally at the office.  It was good to see my buds and go out to lunch once in a while.  Seeing I had a new boss since my transition to retirement, I thought it only proper and generous of me to offer my help should he need it.  That’s the rub!  He accepted my offer of help late last year with regard to some new projects coming up in this new year.  It is too late to back out now, not wishing to be unprofessional.  So now beginning this week and for 8 weeks I will be working on a job site in the middle of Outer East Jibbip.

I had become accustomed to waking up at 7:30 or so and having my first coffee while talking to the dozens of birds in my little back yard.  I have 4 bird feeders that attract many calming and beautiful birds to spend the “break of day” conferring with. Cardinals, blue jays, wrens, doves, chickadees, with an occasional woodpecker and a visiting hummingbird all come to feast at my backyard smorgasbord.  I tell them how spoiled they are eating all my freshly supplied bird seed. They tell me to buzz off and leave them alone.  It is a quite relaxing morning routine. Even the squirrels get into the act but they have learned to ignore me for years.  They still stare at me and play with their nuts.

Now suddenly my calm will be breached by all manner of creatures screaming at me. Let’s see, I will be confronted by truck drivers unhappy with waiting to be unloaded, steel erectors unhappy with the line- up of trucks waiting, general contractors unhappy with the delays and number of trucks blocking the entrances, town police unhappy with trucks in the street, dispatchers unhappy with their drivers calling them to complain – and all of this before 7:30 each morning. Who agrees to this punishment?? What in the world was I drinking when I agreed to this stuff??

I gathered all my usual old work boxes and “tools of the trade” for my journey.  I dusted off my old hard hat and steel toed boots. The old “truck” was loaded up and ready to go.  I had my tiny job site trailer delivered on Monday.  Not exactly the same as sitting on the back deck watching the birds. They will miss me – they told me so since I had to explain why I was leaving. The squirrels not so much!

I remember counting the days until my “first” retirement – now I will be counting the days once more – 52 to be exact- until I get to say all over again –“ I quit – unless of course you still need my help”.