My New Life - When Getting Older Finally Pays Off

When I was 15, I began working at the VA Hospital in San Francisco -- full-time during the summers and part-time during the school year. I had already done lots of babysitting, including a full-time summer gig the year I turned 14, but this was a job where I'd actually receive a paycheck -- and I was making $2.10 an hour which was the minimum wage in 1973. I was thrilled! I still remember bringing home my very first paycheck and showing it to my mom with one question. The paystub showed that I didn't make enough for any state or federal tax deductions, but they still took out for one thing.

"Mom, what is FICA? They took out money for that!"

Mom laughed and said, "Oh honey, that's social security. They'll be taking that out of your paychecks for the rest of your working life."

I started in the Research Dept. for one summer and then worked in the pharmacy prepackaging pills and restocking the shelves for the pharmacists...then on to the EKG Dept. where I learned how to mount EKGs, type the reports and pretty much run the joint. I was only 17... and I loved working... I always had more money than most of my friends. I also made loads of friends there and had fun. Whether I loved it or hated it on any given day, the workplace has always been an integral part of my life except for some breaks here and there and the first year I returned from Germany with three young kids.

I worked as a legal secretary in San Francisco in the later '70s, at American Express Bank in Germany where I learned how to convert Deutch marks to dollars and vice versa; I even dealt blackjack. (that is another story) Then I started from the bottom with the State of Oregon when I returned to the States with three young kids to learn about this mysterious thing called "computers" which I knew nothing about in 1986 and had never used. the whole world had gone "computer" without me and I was determined to be a part of that world I knew so little about.

After a couple of years of working for the State and shuffling three kids around in all of my spare time, I saw an opportunity -- an underfill position in the Word Processing Dept. of the agency I worked for -- two-year limited duration. I'd moved up into Claims Coding by then, and I got to use a database system on a mainframe for data entry, but that was it. Here was my chance to REALLY learn how to use a computer! All of my friends begged me not to go for it, that it was risky, I could be without a job in two years and think of my kids. But I had this feeling that I had to do it and that somehow everything would work out. It turned out to be one of the best career decisions I ever made in my entire life. I worked with the best -- a group of women who really knew about word processing and all the different things which could be done. some of these women went on to become system analysts and computer programmers. I learned quickly that the world of word processing is so much more complex than a "typing pool." (To this day, whenever people equate word processing with being a typist, I cringe.) After one year, I was promoted to word processing tech II and my position was made permanent.

In 1997, my kids and I moved from Oregon back to California where I'd landed a job as a document specialist with a prominent law firm which I would not have gotten without all that word processing experience with the State. I stayed on the bandwagon and never got off...learning all the new programs at work as the years went by.

My life has been filled with struggles, ups, and downs and way too many moves, along with adventures and good times. I've made some great decisions and some not so great ones. But one thing was always certain. Throughout all the changes, I always had a job. My job kept us grounded when nothing else seemed certain. Sometimes I found myself wishing I didn't have to work all the time because I wanted to spend more time with my kids and follow my passions. I tend to be more of a free spirit at heart, but I knew that without the job everything would fall apart.

Today begins my last week of "full-time" work! Starting next week, I only work two days a week... yes, I'm "semi-retiring" early, yes I know I'm not waiting until I get the full amount of social security, but life is beautiful and no one knows for sure how long we'll be here on this earth... For me, the gift of time has won out. I have an awesome boyfriend now (late in life surprise!) and a huge nuclear family including kids, significant others, grandkids, brother and family and sister...not to mention all of my friends who are like family to me. There are stories to write, music to play and many more adventures to be had.

It is time. Hey Mom, I'm finally collecting 'FICA," that mysterious amount of money that has been taken out of my paychecks since 1973. Life is good.

The Camping Experience -- Embarking on a New Life

We camped in the West Fir area on the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River amid fir trees, maples and alders. My boyfriend Savoy called the area paradise. We didn't stay at a real campsite. Just us and nature and camping gear of course like a tent and even a propane stove. I brought my purple music stand, tie-dye ukulele, iPad and phone even though we had no cell or internet access. The phone was great for photos and the iPad useful because all my music was on it, books to read and I could write. I was only a little nervous about camping as my experience only consists of Burning Uke campouts with loads of people all camping together and a bathroom close by. This was roughing it. Savoy made it all seem easy.

But there were challenging moments for me like when savoy wanted to show me the secret beach down the road. I was intrigued and wore my swimsuit ready to go! We climbed down a path and took the trail to the left instead of the right at the fork. 

"Everyone goes down to the swimming hole on the right," Savoy said. We’re going left down the rocky trail. That makes it more secret."

More like the scary trail, I thought.

"I don’t know," I said, surveying the giant rocks jutting out along with other slippery looking rocks. "Maybe we should just take the easy way." 

"You can do it!" he said. He found a stick for me and broke it down to the right size, and we slowly made our way down, climbing on rocks and balancing on them. 

I’m 62 years old, I thought. This was stuff I did when I was young, not now. My sense of balance is shot and I could die down here! 

But with Savoy's help, I made it to the secret beach! And it really was paradise. I wanted to just jump into the water but it was ice cold, and it took me three false tries. Savoy had already dipped in and out twice while I attempted to get used to the water. Finally, I took the plunge. It only stung for a minute. Then it felt great and I stayed in the water and swam around for an hour or more, and it felt cool and exhilarating. I lay on my back in the water and let the current of the river move me downwards, and then flipped around and swam back up again. In the water, I felt much safer than I did climbing on those slippery rocks.

We returned to the campsite and ate pasta and veggie hot dogs for dinner. Everything seems to taste better when you're outdoors. Then Savoy started a fire and I played my ukulele and sang, and we fell asleep to the sounds of the rushing river.

As I embark on my new adventure of semi-retirement, I realize that you’re never too old and sometimes you have to take risks and take the plunge. You just have to go for it... and that's what I'm doing. I'll still work part-time (two days a week), so I still have one foot in the door of working. I feel so good about this now.

Jeremiah Starts Third Grade!

Jeremiah in his new third-grade classroom!

Although I wasn’t there for this momentous occasion, I was there in spirit for Jeremiah’s first day of third grade. Stop growing up so fast baby boy This reminds me of Stevie’s first day of third grade long ago. It was also Melissa’s first day of first grade and Jeremy’s first day of kindergarten! Stevie’s teacher Greta Barr had Stevie for two years and then Jeremy... She became a good friend of mine because we had to discuss issues having to do with my son(s). Stevie walked into third grade like he owned the place just like Jeremiah. Jeremy embraced kindergarten and Melissa cried because she didn’t know anyone at the new school. It took some coaxing to get her into the classroom. Ahhh first day of school... so many years and so many memories. Have a wonderful third-grade experience, Jeremiah! I know you will.

Jeremiah with is Dad Jeremy and his Uncle Stevie. 

Something Needs to Be Done!

Ugh! If I hear one more "gun enthusiast" say, "Well I shoot guns and I don't hurt anyone. Most people don't hurt anyone...but if we don't do something drastic, this will just continue. again and again. I just can't sit back and watch anymore. I guess owning guns is more important to people than all these terrorist white supremacist attacks...it's like we're in this horrible world where it's okay to be prejudiced or racist or to "HATE." I think that's a bigger issue even than guns. the "tolerance" people seem to have for belittling and hating others or hating certain groups of people like immigrants. Bring in all the immigrants... I'm not afraid of them. I'm much more afraid of the insane people right here in this country who are going around shooting others on an almost daily basis... yeah, they'll use other methods too..but we have to start somewhere! I also think that hate groups should be considered terrorists. I think they prey on young people and influence them so they do crazy stuff. Sort of like how Charles Manson never actually killed anyone. He had his minions do all the dirty work. I'm on a rant now!

By the way,  I’ve been arguing about gun control forever! I remember my ex-boyfriend in the 80s wanted me to type a letter for him to the governor about not banning guns... I refused to do it and we argued about it for a while. The only argument that I ever got into with that man. My stance has never changed!

Trip to the Ocean

Yesterday we could’ve gone to the Whiteaker block party in Eugene or dance with other cool bands but I had this insane urge to get to the beach so that’s what we did. 

I still miss living by the ocean in Lincoln City...sometimes I feel as if I've turned my back on the ocean, but I know I did the right thing in moving to Eugene to live closer to my love...and to put myself into a position where I can plan early semi-retirement as well.

It was beautiful and yes it was super windy on the beach but sooo worth it!! The water wasn’t cold and I got my feet wet anyway and walked barefoot... I got to visit several beaches I'd never seen before each one with its own distinct personality, some sandy, some rocky, all gorgeous. Savoy showed me various places he’d lived in the woods and then on an island in the middle of the Stanislaw river long ago. While Savoy told me stories of living on the island he showed me and way out in the woods, I attempted to imagine what that must have been like. He said he never felt too isolated, but he was usually with a girlfriend -- I wondered if SHE might have felt isolated out there, but it was a completely different lifestyle.

Savoy also showed me these insect eating plants in the woods, which are relatively rare.

We also visited Savoy's brother and his wife and they jammed for a while! And we got to visit these amazing plants who eat insects! Good times! I’m definitely looking forward to exploring more. I needed this badly wind or no wind.