The fundamental things apply as time goes by.....

     As I sit here contemplating this new season in my life called "Retirement," I have done a lot of reflecting back. after working for 45 years of "doing something," I now find that I don't HAVE to do.
My many varied careers crafted my identity. I was Bill Hicks, 15 year old Drinking Fountain Maker. Bill Hicks, 20 year old Wawa Store Manager. Bill Hicks, 25 year old Wawa Area Supervisor. Bill Hicks, 30 year old Full time student and part-time Burger King burger maker. Bill Hicks, 35 year old Teacher. Bill Hicks, 40 year old Teacher. Bill Hicks, 60 year old teacher. and now....... ???? I am retired. Does that define me? Is that who I am? I think after 30 years in education I probably still define myself as a teacher, but the bigger question is; Do I need to be defined?

     As I approached zero hour on June 13th, I was asked countless times, "Well, Bill. Once you retire what are you going to do?" 
     My response was, "I've done for 45 years, I don't know that I HAVE to do anything. I think I'll let it find me." Well, here I am, 5 months into it and nothing has found me yet, and you know, I am okay with that. In these 5 months, I have spent a month traveling out west, a month at the beach, 6 weeks staying at my mother-in-law's house, and 3 months watching my grandson Benji go from a little ball of cry to a bright happy baby with an infectious smile and a great laugh. I have taken over 1000 pounds of brush to the dump as Jill and I started to reclaim the yard and shrubbery from the wild. I have read, edited, and proofed Jill's latest novel, "The Long Climb Back," as she pushes to get it out by Black Friday.
     "So, Bill, once you retire, what are you going to do?" I think my accomplishments have been rather prodigious. I've packed a lot into my 5 months of "not working," but nothing defining has found me yet. So where does that leave me???  Bill Hicks, 61 year old. And I am okay with that.