Deflection

After retiring, I started packing my house to sale and move. As I indicated at my retirement, I ended up moving with my mom in July.

In March, I took a trip to northern Wisconsin and burnt off a few brush piles, but my lots are beautiful in the winter (I would love to be there now). Then for a couple of weeks in April, I was in southwest Texas, and I went to Fort Davis National Historic Site, Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It is a pleasure to have my senior citizen National Park pass, since I can pass through the parks with no problems. Although it was windy in southwest Texas, it was fun being out of the Midwest for a few days. Since I did not have the time that I wanted to visit Big Bend National park, I go sick and was unable to spend the time that I wanted, but there is always next year. For those of you that were around the Southwest Arterial project, I did have geology books with me and it was fun studying the area.

Just before the Fourth of July, I put my house up for sale and it was sold within a few days at the recommended listing price of my Realtor without any conditions. Although it was a good deal, I found it a struggle to get out on time, after I can down with pneumonia and the truck I was using to move broke down for a few days. It was a struggle.

Since I decided not to build my house this spring, someone stated that I should see the USA with an RV. So, I bought a 26-foot travel trailer. In October, I spent a couple of weeks in the upper peninsula of Michigan. One week at Porcupine State park. Although the weather was turning bad when I left, it is nice to spend as long as you want hiking the trails in one location and not have time limits on hotels.

In November, I traveled down part of the Mississippi River looking a the lack of water in the riverbed. Since it is a natural phenomenon, it seem like some to take in at this time. In April, I am thinking about pulling my trailer down to the Mississippi River Delta and take in the whole river area as the grass to turn green.

In July, I found that dementia is a very sad disease. The statement that it is a “long good bye” is defiantly a simplified statement, since it takes the mind and leaves a shell over time. A person with all of their facilities through their years of life, now struggles. It is painful for family members and friend to watch. Although I would rather be living in my new house, it seems like the humanitarian thing to do is for me to live with my mom.

My dad turned ninety in September, but the day after his birthday party he had serve back pain that has been diagnosed as arthritis and blood cancer that affects the vertebras in the back. Other than this being part of being old age, it seems like he will be fine.

If I would have retire a year earlier and gave up some of my monthly funds, I would have been able to build my house. By waiting a year, the prices and availability of materials was going to be a big problem. But, with the current economic condition and my mom’s health, I probably cannot build my house next year with the high interest rates. As for now, I am going to try to build it in the summer of 2024.

My career was filled with organization, but now I feel like I am more in a world of chaos. As for being around my mom, they recommended that family caregivers take vacations from time to time and I will plan on doing so next year. Although I am not getting any younger to build my house, I will watch the industry to pick the optimal time to build. I am starting to take up essay writing in my spare time, as I had planned before I retired. My blog is deflection.blog (the name comes from my structural background), if anyone is interested in reading my essays. Life is not how I planned it, by I will work my way through the situation that has been given to me.

I miss the camaraderie of the people at work. The deep discussions of the projects that I was working on everyday, and everyday I seem to be making progress for people to travel that improve their quality of life. As for now, the daily progress that I make is getting my mom through another day. Although getting working with mom everyday is important, it does not have the impact as working on engineering projects. But being a caregiver has helped my move on with my life and not look back at all of the small details of the past 35 years.

I hope that is holiday essay finds all of you in good health. Although I retired almost eleven months ago, I have missed not seeing with friends and colleagues.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Roger