Marriage.  Babies.  First home.

Family vacations.  Family funerals.  Kid graduations.  Father of the Bride.  Retirement.

Stages we share with friends – BESTIES whom we closely confide, share laughter, life events, our ups & downs.

First to RETIRE.  Stephen.  Thirty years of bosses, budgets, job titles, office changes,  annual reviews, Thursday pints-after-work – then blink, it’s all over.  Luckily, I’m at the tail-end of my peer group.  August birthday, last to turn 18.  Trend’s continued whole life.

When am I old enough to buy a house?  When should I be getting married?  Decisions seemed so ‘grown-up’ – then somehow, one day – YOU’RE the grown-up, YOU’RE the  uncle, YOU’RE the one sending cash on birthdays & graduations.  Time warp.

Stephen’s party started my own wheels turning.  Retirement.  What will MY next chapter look like?  What’s after retirement?  And when?  10 years, 15 years?

Luckily, notta question for Stephen.  Guy’s been FILLING his dance card.  Candlepin bowling.  Community chorus.  Crafty to-do project I’ve been vowed to secrecy – AND a role in this year’s Palm Sunday celebration: ‘Jesus the Dreamer’ at South Church in Concord.  Name printed in the program & everything.  Completely legit.

Retirement reflection.  Step ONE.  Pay off the house.  FIVE years.

Think it, dream it, say it out loud (and hopefully, win the lottery – HA!)

Retirement Lunch

‘Jesus the Dreamer’