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May
There's good sappy, and there's bad sappy. That was a good sappy. I totally agree with the need to make your own way.
I think my dad has retired 3 times now. He's doing it again in June; he's 72. When you hit retirement, to me, the ultimate goal would be to do what you want to do, whether it be paying work or volunteer. I'd lose my mind.
I always had it in my mind that I would retire in the Cayman Islands---seriously. I researched it, and their rules to live there are strict. You have to get a medical test and a background check to be let in.
Each time I went there, I'd write articles. I remember one time really sitting back and thinking how much the place reminded me of my version of Eden...if I could envision Eden. Then I had that Type A journalist thought: could I live in Eden. The answer: no. I'd go nuts. The place is a bit of an enigma to me. Hmm. you know the retirement thing would make a good post at some point.
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 10, 2005 at 10:31 PM
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terpgirl, I am not into sappy either unless I feel like it. Yes I understand what it's like to have to give up freelance when you are not fit enough to do it.
It sounds like you went through something very painful...so good that it wasn't much worse.
When you come close to losing your life it changes your priorities.
I know I sound like an "ediot" working all the hours but on the other hand I am loving the fact that I can make my own way in this world. I had people tell me I should retire but why would I want to do that when there are so many things I can be doing. Eek, I am sounding sappy now
posted by
Azur
on May 10, 2005 at 9:25 PM
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Gee, do you think she was paid to say that?
Hopefully a lot... now I have offended my lawyer friends of course 
posted by
FactorFiction
on May 10, 2005 at 6:24 AM
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Mike, Exactly
Because running them over would be wrong. Chasing them is okay.
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 9, 2005 at 9:38 PM
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Driving Gently
That's when you only tap the pedestrians. Not actually run them over.
posted by
mikea18
on May 9, 2005 at 7:12 PM
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How exactly DOES one drive gently? lol.
posted by
Julia.
on May 9, 2005 at 6:25 PM
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Quirky
I just saw your profile. Love that quote. We have a similar saying in Maryland. A local columnist turned it into a book title. It has to do with people who drive to our beach area through the small, small towns. You'll see billboards that say something like: If you lived here, you'd be home by now.
We have squirrel billboards. For a long time, on the way home from the beach, you'd get a billboard from the powers that be admonishing you to "Drive Gently."
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 9, 2005 at 6:10 PM
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I beg your humble forgiveness
No soup for me. I don't deserve soup.
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 9, 2005 at 6:05 PM
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Poor Strat and Quirky,
I guess our comments weren't worthy...okay then...no soup for you!
posted by
Julia.
on May 9, 2005 at 5:42 PM
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Mary-May
Mary,
You don't even know it, but you've sort of answered my next post. :)
May
You sound like you are having ups and downs with all of this. I hope your health gives you a break. It also sounds like you work yourself to the point of no return.
I know exactly where you're coming from. I was in a car accident. It sounds strange to say it, but I'm lucky that I was the only one hurt--both kids were in the back seat. A judgment thing---my ex just didn't slow down when all the beltway traffic was completely stopped, and he smacked into cars. I guess it's an instinct thing, but I twisted in the seat to face the kids. I had a hand in front of each one. I tell you. Does that sound sane? What exactly was my one hand in front of each one going to do? Well, we got hit again from behind. I was in such a crazy position, that pretty much sealed it. I had spinal surgery a year later---you have to get real bad before it's done. That was in '97. Years go by... I was up all night yesterday because of pain. As they took tests to decide whether or not to do another surgery, I had a medical test that went really, really bad. My spinal sac was punctured. I started having allergic reactions that day. I had them once a month---even on my honeymoon in Jamaica---for over a year, ending up in or near anaphylaxis in the ER.
I lost a year. I couldn't count on doing anything. Even as a freelance writer, I couldn't really work because I couldn't take on deadlines. I never knew if I could make them. So, now, several years later, even with the pain, one of the best things is that I'm on this side of '97, and the kids are fine.
Dang, I'm sounding sappy. I hate that.
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 9, 2005 at 5:07 PM
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The best thing that ever happened to me is very easy to answer and it is that I was saved from an illness that would have killed me. Now I have a niggling illness and that is a much bigger pain in the butt (not literally)
posted by
Azur
on May 9, 2005 at 4:51 PM
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Terpgirl,
The best thing that's ever happened to me? You mean, besides those little disposable toilet bowl brushes and the new angled thiniges that clean behind the bowl without having to get down and scrub?
posted by
Blanche.
on May 9, 2005 at 4:46 PM
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MHW
MHW---:) You're hopeless.
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 9, 2005 at 4:22 PM
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TerpGirl, one of the best things that ever happened to me was getting
chummy with some of those cute little Catholic-school girls who attended Bishop Conaty High School.
posted by
Feenix
on May 9, 2005 at 2:35 PM
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If I win the powerball, then maybe, just maybe...
Nah. I agree; the best thing needs to be "the best things" -- and I hope to God none of the best things happen because of some slick TV shyster.
posted by
strat
on May 9, 2005 at 2:29 PM
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You're right...it's best (pun intended) not to label any event the best thing that's ever happened...that puts a lot of pressure on it, lol. Better to say, "one of the best,"---because then it could actually be one of dozens or more. BTW, I agree with you that 12 Angry Men and The Usual Suspects are great films.
posted by
Julia.
on May 9, 2005 at 2:22 PM
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