The "R" Word

I look around work these days. Occasionally it dawns on me that my time is limited. It doesn't seem possible after so many years that there might be a time when I'm no longer a part of the place. Do I have five or ten more years left in me of being able to physically perform my duties? So many years pass by and it never enters your mind. Then suddenly the realization is present.

Five or ten years at my age, flashes by in an instant it seems.

I'm told that Miguel is 81 years old. He rarely misses a day. He seems happy working each day. What's his secret?

I've never been good at walking away from known and comfortable circumstances for the final time. Not that I have much experience at it. But there have been a few occasions .... St. Vincent's, high school, my job with the city. It was never my choice. Maybe the city was somewhat. Maybe I could have hung around doing the occasional odd job for them but the reasons I originally became involved had been washed away in a series of budget cuts. They called a few times afterwards with a few hours that I turned down ..... I ended up just kind of fading away. Never formally informed that I was dismissed, never formally quitting.

I think I saw that time approaching after realizing well after the fact that several key changes in management had taken place. I had no idea what was going down during that final year. Not that they were obligated to inform me of upcoming changes but normally I would have been in the loop just by being around and talking with people. The old gossip around the water cooler. But more and more I had taken to performing the majority of my office chores at odd hours, coming and going when most people were at home. In a way, slowly backing away from it all.

Funny how some people spend their final years at work almost obsessing about retirement while it never seems to enter the mind of others. In Frank's final year or two, I doubt a day went by where he didn't mention it. He was concerned if he could make it work financially but the closer he came to his announced date, the more excited he became. He claims now to have no regrets.

I've see them go at all ages .... 50's, early 60's and later. Hopefully I'll know when it's my time.