Days left in this year and my career, that is! Holy cats, how did I get here so fast? It seemed like only yesterday I was starting out, working (at minimum wage) even before officially graduating with my sparkly Bachelor of Science degree, at my first full-time job.
I was one of the lucky ones – actually working in my field, thanks to a part-time job in a lab I picked up while working on my undergrad…that morphed into a full-time position once my studies were ended. But enough reminiscing on that for now. Maybe I’ll do a retrospective (or two) on my working life at some point on ye olde blogge, but that’s not the focus for today.
Some of you may have noticed it’s been a while since my last post – 28 days, to be exact. Although I am not the most prolific of bloggers, I’ve been doing pretty well for the past couple of years, so this was a long hiatus for moi.
For 2 reasons, mainly.
Reason #1 – this last month of work has been waaaay more draining than I had anticipated. My successor took over officially on December 16th, and I’ve been very focused on giving her a smooth start (by performing some unpleasant tasks that needed doing, so she didn’t have to deal with them); and trying to organize/categorize/put into words all of the things that are the Lab Manager’s responsibility and that I have to deal with on any given day. Her comment on the first day of the job: “Wow, here I am dealing with at least 7 time-critical things at the same time.” Only 7? You’ll get used to it…hehehe!
I’ve been so involved with a successful handover that it’s infiltrating my dreams. A few days ago I woke up terribly tired because it seemed like all night I was going through my computer files in my sleep – finding an apparently vital statistics spreadsheet that I’d been keeping and needed to remember to share with the new Lab Manager. When I woke up, I couldn’t remember what this damned important file was all about so I figured my anxious brain just made it up for my dream.
The point is: I’ve been coming home exhausted and needing my free time to decompress, unwind and recover/restore myself for the next day/week.
Reason #2 – not feeling the Christmas at all this year. Could be related to Reason #1, but I don’t think so. I’ve fallen out of love with Christmas for many years and many reasons. But this season it was especially severe.
For the first year ever, I didn’t put up a tree. Even though I probably should have if only because it would have given me an opportunity to sort through my Christmas decor bin, prior to my mid-year move to the West Coast. No tree or other decor, no Christmas cards or letter to friends – no nothing.
So this kept me off the blog because who needs to listen to me rant about how I was am feeling like Christianity is the one of the biggest hammers in the Patriarchy toolbox and other such angelic thoughts as I have been having this month…HAH! Especially at one of the most celebratory times of the year, for most people, regardless of religious leaning. Consider it a public service that I’ve kept quiet. 😉
However, I have enjoyed living vicariously through other bloggers I follow as they posted about their Decembers, and their celebrations with family and friends, and tried to keep my bitter thoughts to myself. As one should.
I did take some time out to celebrate the winter solstice, despite everything else going on in my life and my mind. A reflective and solitary celebration of my gratitude for my life and for the natural world that hosts me – welcoming the longest night, and then the rising sun the next morning.
In closing this last post of mine for 2019, I’m going to take a moment to also thank YOU – all of the readers of ye olde blogge for being “here” for me. For taking the time to read and comment; for your encouragement and humour; for your insights and oh-so kind words. I do love this community so, and can’t wait to keep interacting with you all in the coming year when I will have much more time to do so!
Rock on,
The WB
All the best for 2020 Deb. If you think that time went fast wait to you see how fast the rest of it goes.
Leslie 🙂
Thanks Leslie 💕 I’ll take your word for it!
enjoy while you can Deb….
Leslie
Your successor is very lucky to have someone as dedicated to a smooth transition as you. I hope you enjoy your new casual lifestyle, with the coming year. If you ever get bored, just take a nap.
Thank you TG 💕 Wise advice, indeed!
You are going to love retirement!
I felt the same about Christmas this year. A little bitter and sad.
Thank you Jackie 💕
I relate so much to this blog post:
– I just NOW got through going through Christmas decorations (that didn’t go up) in anticipation of a move. I purged all of those related to religion (I’m definitely borrowing your expression about that!)
– After about a year of retirement, I began sleeping without dreaming of work. For some reason, I STILL dream about going back to university because…..ooops, I failed a class and after all these years they are just now catching it. You’ll soon have the major aspects of this transition behind you and be sleeping like a baby (until you move) Congratulations!!!
– I haven’t blogged either, but that’s ok. I missed yours because you are for real and hilarious.
Happy New Year Deb, and keep enjoying life’s adventures!
Thank you Tracey 💕 I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling this way. My “realness” keeps me from blogging at times, but for better or for worse whatever I am thinking/feeling eventually comes out on ye olde blogge. 😉
I’m so happy for you! You’re going out in style, giving your successor the benefit of your experience which isn’t always the case in a hand-over. I look forward to the retrospective of your work life, when you write one. I never really understood what kind of ‘lab’ you work in.
I didn’t get anything Christmas out either and I’m good with that. Maybe next year I’ll force on celebrating the winter solstice for reasons very similar to yours.
Happy Retirement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Jean 💕 I currently work in a lab that tests raw milk from individual cows, straight from the farm. In the past I have worked in veterinary diagnostic labs, quality control and product development labs for dairy products, and even a lab that tested tobacco. I’ve also worked in animal disease research, specifically in a lab that created custom made vaccines for animals.
“and tried to keep my bitter thoughts to myself. As one should” — That’s probably great advice, but I’m going to have to ignore it, or throw away about 299 of my 302 posts… I’d actually be interested in your thoughts on how the holidays support the patriarchy. I’m sure it’s true, but you would probably have a better perspective than this card-carrying patriarch. Have a great 2020.
Thank you Kieran 💕 I wrote that Christianity supports the patriarchy, not the holidays per se…though it could be argued that it indirectly does if you celebrate Christmas. I hope you have a great 2020 as well. Keep on being bitter – I like to read your blog and hope to have even more time to do so once I am retired.
I am so excited that your official retirement is the start of the year. What a wonderful way to start the year.
I read your linked posts about your falling out of love with Christmas, and I just want to thank you for being so honest about what this season is like for you. I did notice that you hadn’t been posting, so I’m glad to see an update for you. I’m happy to hear that though part of it is because work has been draining, the other part is that you’re taking care of yourself.
I hope the new year of retirement is A+ amazing. Happy New Year, Deb!
Thank you Akilah 💕 Happy new year to you as well!
Okay, so you get a Grinch pass this year, but at least you celebrated something meaningful and that is all that matters. What could be more uplifting than expressing gratitude. Best of luck with these final days and welcome to RETIREMENT! You are going to be great at it!
Thank you Suzanne 💕
Congratulations! You made it to our side. Its much better over here! Cherish the moments.
Cheers,
John and Susan
Thank you John and Susan 💕
I guess it is a totally different experience when it’s a summer holiday Christmas! Christmas to New Year’s pretty much the whole country shuts down (except for the shopping centres) and everyone gets outdoors, bbq’s with friends and family, swims etc. It’s usually hot (this year at home it’s been over 100’C for about 3 or 4 weeks) so no-one is lighting fires or doing anything traditional (except maybe a tree and lights). And while we’re a Christian country, we’re not a religious country, if that makes sense.
But I totally get where you’re coming from. I think it makes a difference if you don’t have kids at home either! Then you actually have a choice.
Thank you AJ 💕
I also had a hard time with Christmas this year. So happy it’s over. The house has been purged of all Christmas debris. I’ve been retired a little more than two years, and I still have work dreams. Welcome to retirement!
Thank you Donna 💕
Happy 2020 Deb! May the last couple of days of 2019 be ones of rest and rejuvenation. I’m sure once the new year gets underway, along with your move, you’ll be back to your “spicy” self! I for one am looking forward to your thoughts and your 2020 goes forward. ~Kathy
Thank you Kathy 💕
Funny. For the first time ever, I felt something that might be called Christmas spirit, though it may also have been just a happy moment that occurred during the Christmas season. Not being a Christian or a faith follower of any kind, I do enjoy lighting candles all December long and spending early mornings contemplating life or just letting my thoughts wander. The new agey sort might call this meditation but I just call it relaxing. Your December sounds the farthest from relaxing one can imagine but just think how January will be. Though I suppose it will be busy in its own way as you pull up stakes and head to the wet coast. Can’t wait until you start posting from the Island. All the best to you in 2020, Deb.
I like your way of celebrating December, Susanne. All the best to you as well 💕
Congratulations on your impending retirement!!! Two more days! I remember my excitement when I had only days left. It was hard to sit still! I retired in May of 2015 and I have not regretted it one single moment. Life is wonderful, there is so much to do, and none of it has to do with work! Enjoy. The first day of retirement I went to a local park with my dog and a salad for lunch. It was a weekday. I got to eat my lunch next to a lake in the sun with no pressure to hurry back to my desk. It was amazing. Can’t wait to hear what memories you make in your retirement!
Thank you Dawn 💕 Loved reading about your first day of retirement! Sounds like my kind of day 😁
Congrats on the retirement Deb! Wishing you a brilliant future as you move into this next phase of life! Enjoy 😘
Thank you Lynn 💕
You’re right … I didn’t get an email. On top of it, your blog doesn’t seem to want to recognize me. Maybe this comment will go through.
You are down to the wire now!! I suspect your feelings this Christmas might be a bit of an aberration and next year in your new home will feel different … as in better 🙂
Looking forward to sharing new adventures with you in your new life in the new year!!
Your comment went thru, Joanne! Thank you my friend 💕 Looking forward to our new adventures as well! 😁
My first time here, and I learn you are packing it up and moving west! Ten years ago I, too, was about to retire and start a new adventure. I wish you well with yours. I have lived in California all of my life and love it out here on the “left” coast. Hope you enjoy it, too.
Thank you very much! I think I will enjoy the “left” coast very much. 😄 All of Canada is pretty much “left” by USA standards, but British Columbia is the “leftist”, I think 🤣
I am SOOOOO excited for this New Year and I cannot wait to read about where your journey takes you and ALL of the adventure sure to follow!!! You are an inspiration for all of us to get up, get out, get moving and get happy! Here’s to all things wonderful that the New Year will bring! Cheers!
Thank you so much Mimi💕 wishing you all the best for 2020!
I enjoyed this post because hey it’s very real and transparent! I often have dreams that leave me exhausted when i wake up from them, so I can relate. Being Jewish I have never celebrated Christmas and actually, have never felt like I was missing out. It always seems so stressful and filled with a lot of consumption and consumerism. I do enjoy seeing others enjoy it though ~ some sort of vicarious pleasure.
All the best for 2020 and here’s to new adventures!!
Peta
Thank you Peta 💕 Christmas is especially stressful for women, it seems to me, as they are expected to make everything (food, presents, decor, get-togethers) magically happen for their families in December.
Good point.
I haven’t been a Christmas follower for ten years or so, in spite of being born and bred to the traditional tree, presents, and turkey. Super excited as a kid – now? Not so much. Now, I find myself bracing for it to past, like a wicked thunderstorm, loud and impossible to ignore. So much so, I found myself wishing this year for some sort of Hallmark greeting card that acknowledged the other’s seasonal greetings without “buying into” Madison Avenue’s schemes. Then I realized that buying a greeting card of whatever category would be against my policy. So, I remained silent.
And I ignored the blogs – hence my tardy reply. Best wishes to you and may 2020 be fulfilling!
Thank you Maggie 💕 I get it. All the best to you as well, for 2020!
Hi Debby – all the best for your coming year of retirement and those ahead – life will change and become kinder – all the very best – cheers Hilary
Thank you Hilary 💕 Same to you!
Deb, you have retired! How exciting! I was one of those pre-retirees who had a really hard time with the decision. I felt I was throwing away my life and identity. I was grieving the loss of my career. But, as you know, I absolutely love retirement and am so happy I did retire when I did. Then, immediately afterwards, I moved to Vancouver Island, like you are about to do, and it’s been awesome. I hope that soon I will finally get to meet you in person.
And as for Christmas, I’m quite ambivalent about it — the high expectations, the materialism, the religious crap, the huge amount of work associated with it… On the plus side, it is a wonderful chance to get together with friends and family.
All the best with your new start in 2020!
Jude
Thank you Jude 💕 Great to hear you’re loving retirement and island life both! I hope to see you in about 1/2 a year or so if all goes well.
Well, it appears that I missed this post, so I’m glad you sent out that email to resubscride. I felt the same way about Christmas that you did… just wasn’t feeling it. But, what a wonderful way to begin the new year! Congratulations on finally diving into retirement. Life is good at this end of the pool. I have to say that I’m jealous of your upcoming move. I love my city, but if my husband and I could figure out a way to move to Canada full time (maybe as political refugees?) we’d be there too. So much for you to look forward to… isn’t it funny how life works out?
Thank you Janis 💕 Hopefully my post notification problems are over and you never have to resubscribe again. It IS funny how life works out. Wishing you and your husband all the best for 2020!
Hi Deb, I am behind (hiatus also, for personal reasons) yet, I do want to catch up on Ye Olde Blogge:) I also greatly appreciate the winter solstice. I wonder whether this is an almost primal feeling. I look forward to reading, connecting, interacting and maybe even a shenanigan or two in 2020 with you, Deb. I know this will be a good year!
I think you are right that this is a primal feeling – it must be encoded in our DNA somewhere 🤔 I’m looking forward to future shenanigans with you, Erica – very much! 💕
Welcome back. What an exciting time to retire…the beginning of a new year and a new decade. Retirement bit me in the butt for about 3 years. I loved my job, although, I had grown weary. And I needed surgery immediately after retiring. But once I began feeling better physically, I felt worse emotionally. What was I supposed to be doing now that I was no longer working??? Still trying to figure that out some days. Wishing you an easy adjustment. Make some plans!!
Thank you 💕 I have many, many plans in various stages of realization (from embryonic to being put into play) – never fear!