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Congrats!
Off the Wall
May 3, 2007
I have yet to figure out why so many people are
congratulating me since I have retired.
I guess for some people, they've reached a period in their life
where they can start cashing in on their social security and
live off the pensions that their employers have implemented over
the years.
For me, it just ain't that way.
Having my own business was an experience, but not
that lucrative. I paid the bills, but had nothing left over.
Since I had begun my employment back in 1968, I have $69.45 chalked
up to Social Security. As for a pension plan, Pee Vee's never
had a pension plan. My boss never saw fit to set one up.
I guess that was his fault. Why I would work for
such a fellow was beyond me. But I kind of liked the guy. After
all, he has been with me all my life and intends to spend the
rest of his life with me. Can't ask for anything more than that!
Maybe people tell me congratulations because now I don't
have to work anymore. That's a bummer, because I love to work.
I think the worst someone can do is sit around all day and do
nothing.
When I was in high school, I realized there was
a lot I could do with just my hands. I used to knock on people's
doors and ask if I could weed their gardens for free! I would
do anything I could just to keep busy.
In my second year of college, I established three
jobs that were nonexistent. In addition to my education, I wanted
to work. In so doing, I would be fulfilling a need within me
and also providing a service for someone else. Sometimes the
joy I would give to others was pay enough.
When I established Pee Vee's, it was a way of communicating
to the world, so to speak, that I wanted to show others that
I had services and products that I could sell and they could
use. Being in business for 33 years, I must have convinced the
public that I had a will to work. Otherwise, I may not have been
in operation as long as I was.
So, now that I am sitting in my easy chair in front
of my dark gray machine, I find myself researching everything
under the sun, taking time to read material that I never had
time to do so before. I think I have gone from one extreme to
another. Is that why people are handing out congratulation notes?
When I worked, there was structure. That stupid
(another story) alarm clock would go off much too early, I'd
have to roll out of bed, stagger to the room down the hall and
as the ladies like to say, "Freshen up." Then it would
be back to the room, put on the proper attire, and then rush
back to the kitchen for some grub. I usually never got to eat
all of it, because I'd run out of time. Customers never liked
it if I showed up late, you know
But now, I get to sleep in, hop out of bed, gallivant
down the hall, then meander back to the bedroom where I would
flop down in my computer chair and prepare for a morning's worth
of typing. After that was through, I commence singing, "Oh
Happy Day," for that meant I was free to do whatever lay
ahead.
I feel as though a group of people from Publisher's
Clearing House just left after knocking at my door telling me
I had won days off for the rest of my life, but didn't need to
work anymore. That would have been all right if they would have
only given me a check, but just to knock and leave the message
without any type of presentation left me cold.
Sometimes I have a perception
that I'm a wet sock laid out to dry.
Oh, but don't you worry. I am no couch potato. I
still have spunk and am willing to dig into anything that comes
my way as long as it doesn't affect my health.
Our church has a Silver Threads organization. I
recently joined. Maybe if I needle my way through the goings
on at the meetings, I can work my way up the ladder and learn
quilting or something related to that.
I don't think any of us know what tomorrow will
bring. But if you are working for a company at the present and
love every minute of it, make the best of every moment. Cherish
the fact that you just may have something to live with once your
time has come to hang it up. Then when you hear "congrats,"
you'll feel good after a time well spent.
Paul j. volkmann
4/26/07
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