The Golden Years

RETIREMENT--For me meant that I would have time for all the things I had put aside to do "when I have time". `Now that I am almost 82 yrs old it has come to me that I'd better get busy. Not sure just what God permits in Heaven. Being busy is bred in my soul. All the way from my Pennsylvania dutch great grandmother to my grandfather and my dear mother. At times I am sure that I drive people crazy--but I have the feeling that one must not just sit and do nothing. Tatting, crocheting hand stitching seems to take care of that obsession. Having learned that some dust and a few dirty clothes in the basket are not a crime, it is easier to sit and do the things I find enjoyment from. My dear husband tells me that I am on a merry-go-round. Lordy it is fun. Also takes care of the feeling to be needed.

The Yuma Potpourri Artists is a wonderful organization. Through the membership of this club New and special friends have come along into my life. They have enriched every day living so very much. A special Friend Joyce especially. She grew up in Oregon. Has one daughter. Been on her own for over 20 years and has done such a great job making her life happy while rearing a daughter that any mother would be Oh so proud of. Joyce lost her older sister who would be my age. So I have become her older sister. We have so much in common and enjoy so many of the same things. I accuse her of being fussy. She is but in a sweet sort of a way. She leaves Yuma for the summers and heads to cooler northern Arizona and Oregon. She visits family in Oregon each summer. In April 2010 Joyce and I joined a team from my church Gila Mountain Methodist to walk the 24 hour "Walk for Life" for the cancer fund. She for her sister and I for Bob's and my daughter Susie daughter. We lost her in 2004 at the age of 54.

Each year in the spring the county fair is held here in Yuma. Fairs are so much fun and bring back so many wonderful memories of the Lorain County Fairs that my grandpa Wilson would take Brother Bill and I to each summer when we had our wonderful vacation time time with him. Both of our grandpa's were great guys but Grandpa Wilson was the most mischievous. I am sure that I inherited some of that from him. He was so much fun. He grew the most wonderful gardens and made the best home made beer. We called it grandpa's pop. I am off subject--At the Yuma county Fair the artist group I belong to accepts, catalogs, judges and displays all the art from the general public. For all this work we have the use of the building for 2 3 day craft shows a year at no charge. It is work but fun at the same time. Like any other group there are a group of members that always can be counted to be there. Each member and any helper that they bring is given credit toward the table fee during the two shows.
This organization also supports the Yuma County Library. In the years past craft shows were held on the lawn of the old library now known as the Heritage Library. We now have 4 wonderful new modern libraries in the county system. My husband came up with the idea to hold craft shows at the new libraries. We tried and it worked. We move around to a different location during the winter season. Bob and I are in charge of getting the dates and setting up the show. His help is so important and it something that we can do together.

In our almost 63 years together we have traveled many a mile together. Many miles back to Ohio and then Nebraska when we moved to Washington State. All the miles with our Airstream Trailer as well as 3 trips to South Africa and a trip to Switzerland. In 2009 we took a month long trip, during which we bought ourselves a cute little Toyota Rav 4. We plan to do the same this summer. Bob says this may be our last long trip but if I can keep in stretch class and walking he will stay in good shape. He will get "anncy" and we will go again.

It is my plan to live to be 100. Why just because no one in my family has ever done it. I had a great grandmother we lived just short of her 96th birthday. I shall try to pass her her record. From beginning to end my Life has been an adventure in Living. Happpiness, Sadness, excitment, disappointment and all the other things that can happen in 80 plus years. God has granted me many blessings along the way. If I had a chance I would do it all over again. What I have lived has made me the person that I am and it is my hope that along the way my path has crossed others paths and it was as much of a pleasure and blessing for them as it has been for Me. Thank you God for traveling sthe whole route with me.