Category Archives: Aging

Feb2

VALENTINES’ DAY PRESSURE

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VALENTINES’ DAY PRESSURE

TENDER TUESDAYS- Prairie Girl Series #24

Each year, husband constantly reminds his Prairie Girl  how much he dislikes Valentines’ Day.  Why, you ask? Well, the long and the short of it is that he has an issue with feeling obligated to create a ‘HALLMARK MOMENT’ when someone else deems it necessary. Prairie Girl calls it his “BAH HUMBUG” syndrome. He pretty much feels this way about any contrived gift-giving celebration.  Now don’t get the wrong impression, it isn’t that he resents giving a gift and a card, (although one might regard husband as somewhat frugal); its really about being expected to celebrate something that he hasn’t bought into.  Prairie Girl understands his sentiments, but she does not let him … Read the rest

Jan30

TENDER TUESDAYS- Prairie Girl Series #18

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TENDER TUESDAYS- Prairie Girl Series #18

PRAIRIE GIRL’S CAPTAIN IS VICE COMMODORE!

Not only did they join the yacht club, but also through questionable circumstances, husband was voted in (by acclamation) at the Yacht Club’s annual meeting! You’re shaking your head at this point, knowing that he probably has the smallest yacht in the club and sails less than anyone else. To affirm your suspicions, just review the Prairie Girl Post #15 – WILL THEY EVER SAIL AGAIN?

In the early fall, husband was called by the Past Commodore to ask whether he would consider letting his name stand for the Yacht Club’s Executive Team. Husband, now retired 9 months, didn’t have his work excuse to fall back on, now did he? So he cautiously … Read the rest

May16

TENDER TUESDAYS- PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #13

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TENDER TUESDAYS- PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #13

PRAIRIE GIRL CAN’T JOIN A YACHT CLUB!

(THEY MIGHT THINK SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE’S DOING ON A SAILBOAT!)

Moving to Vancouver Island meant finding a location that was handy to the marina, so that husband and Prairie Girl could get to the boat easily for maintenance and quick decision day sails and get-aways. Looking back on the last 6 years, it didn’t quite work out as perfectly as planned. It’s true the boat was within walking distance of their new home, but with husband still working, Prairie Girl writing and publishing books, and extensive travel (both work and pleasure related), the TwoCan hasn’t always had the usage one anticipated with the move.

Shortly after moving, husband was approached by SCYC … Read the rest

May2

TENDER TUESDAYS – SURVIVING MY HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT #6

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TENDER TUESDAYS – SURVIVING MY HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT #6

THE L_O_N_G CONVALESCENCE

Let’s just say that once husband and Prairie Girl woke up after the operation, the fog took some time to clear before reality set in. Comprehending what had just happened took some time to digest. Husband and Prairie Girl were never so relieved to be TOGETHER! The 14 days spent in the hospital was a new journey for both of them. Never being on any medications or being diagnosed with anything serious in their years together, had led them to believe that illnesses and accidents happen to others- not to them.

Amazingly, PRAIRIE GIRL found  it to be second nature to care for her FREEDOM 69 husband.  This surprised even her! Prairie Girl, immediately … Read the rest

Apr11

TENDER TUESDAYS – SURVIVING MY HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT #5

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TENDER TUESDAYS – SURVIVING MY HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT #5

THE RETIREMENT THAT ALMOST WASN’T!

FREEDOM 69 TIMELINE:

January 1, 2017 – Husband Officially Retired

January 1- February 1- Husband enjoying Retirement Cruises

March 4th- FREEDOM 69 RETIREMENT PARTY

March 7th- Tour of Memorial Gardens and Meeting with Funeral Planning Consultant (Read March 11th Post: A Retirement Party on the Weekend and a Funeral Consult 2 Days Later)

March 21st-Ambulance called at midnight

March 22nd- Emergency Surgery -Bowel Reconstruction (8.5 hrs. with 2 surgeons working on husband)

April 5th- Husband discharged with Daily Home Care Nurse Visits

Prairie Girl and husband were completely blind-sided by this incredible medical journey that husband landed himself into. They imagined that they’d merrily continue into this new retirement phase with even more adventure and … Read the rest

Mar14

TENDER TUESDAYS- SURVIVING MY HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT #4

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TENDER TUESDAYS- SURVIVING MY HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT #4

A RETIREMENT PARTY on the WEEKEND… and a FUNERAL CONSULT 2 DAYS LATER!

– SURVIVING MY HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT -Instalment #4

Prairie Girl is certain that this Post Headline grabbed your attention! Seriously, it did happen and husband’s had nightmares ever since! (Please don’t think these two take the death of loved ones lightly- they don’t!) However, they do get themselves into predicaments without always anticipating the outcomes of their “in-the-moment” comments.

Last January when husband’s father passed away, Prairie Girl and husband met with the Memorial Gardens director to ensure that their father’s wishes were being followed. Husband was so thankful that he, his sister, and their mother weren’t burdened with making decisions to the BIG QUESTIONS. Opa had … Read the rest

Mar7

TENDER TUESDAYS SURVIVING MY HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT – #3

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TENDER TUESDAYS SURVIVING MY HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT – #3

FREEDOM 69 RETIREMENT PARTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wife may have had a devious reason for planning a party with a retirement theme for husband, other than the fun opportunity to have friends over for a night of merry-making… (Hard to imagine, I know!) Have you figured out what it might possibly be? Yep, she secretly figured that if the retirement was made official with an EVENT, there really wouldn’t be wiggle room for husband to be enticed to get involved in new ventures being proposed. There had been so many false starts leading to his retirement decision that WIFE wanted it sealed in public. After all, Ryan had hit his FREEDOM 69… Read the rest

Feb15

TENDER TUESDAYS – SURVIVING my HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT #2

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TENDER TUESDAYS – SURVIVING my HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT #2

NO MORE 4 LETTER WORK EXCUSE !

So we’re into WEEK 2 of being home after husband’s retirement cruise. WEEK 1 was spent snowed in for about 5 days (unusual for Vancouver Is.) and of course, husband’s birthday was right in the middle of that unlikely occurrence. Let’s just say, it wasn’t a memorable celebration – nothing much in the cupboards yet for creating a special dinner and birthday cake…. No one was going to join us for chili and, of course, there wasn’t a single gift wrapped, let alone a card. You see where this is going? What did happen was the viewing of the SUPER BOWL GAME that husband had anticipated watching in the Palm Desert. So we … Read the rest

Feb9

TENDER TUESDAYS – SURVIVING my HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT -#1

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TENDER TUESDAYS – SURVIVING my HUSBAND’S RETIREMENT -#1

FREEDOM 69! A REALITY?

“They” say that it’s never a good idea to have BOTH spouses retire at the same time. Husband and I took that advice to heart and now 6 years later; husband has finally done the deed! (Or so it appears…) It took him a few false starts and tons of procrastination, so rather than leaping into this phase, he took 6 years of baby steps towards the edge of the cliff! The point is- he finally retired on Jan. 1st, just before his 69th birthday arrived. (… Or did he?)

You may be asking yourself how that’s going for this spousal team? Well, let’s just say, there isn’t a clear picture yet, as they took off … Read the rest

Feb5

SNOW DAY- A BLAST of WINTER!

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SNOW DAY- A BLAST of WINTER!

Waking up to a WINTER WONDERLAND on Vancouver Island, after just returning from Central America and the Caribbean, might make one think that this was CRUEL!  Not so! In fact, it was like waking up to a birthday gift!

mary_snow_day

After moving  to B.C. from the prairies, Mary found SNOW DAYS absolutely fascinating.  During her first year of teaching in Horseshoe Bay, a SNOW DAY was declared.  Declared, that is, for the students, as it was presumed too dangerous for them to be dropped off at school.  She “pooh-poohed” this nonsense until she had to make the drive from Deep Cove all the way out to Horseshoe Bay, including the cut (a very, very steep incline in North Van) … Read the rest