It’s been two months and two weeks since I retired from the cube farm. Thus far it’s been quite awesome. I have my lawn mowed before noon. I shop with my fellow whiteheads for groceries. Odd to see so many non whitehead club members shopping on our time. Everything is at a slower less harried pace. The cashier at Cub chats with each customer as though we’ve all known each other for years.
I’ve formulated new schedules and noticed some things. Rather than waking up at 6 am each morning; I’m now embracing the day between 7 and 8 am. My new daily routine is going on walkabouts each morning between 8:30 and 9 am. Afterwards, coffee out on the deck basking in the shade of the table umbrella.
Interesting to see other people have similar schedules. I expected to see more whiteheads out and about. But so far its a 50/50 mix of white/blue rinse heads and 20-50 something’s. Are they working or hardly working and slacking off while “working” from home?
I came across yet another construction site along my 5 mile walk this morning. The crew were napping. I thought about using the construction equipment. But the crew is not around to operate the crane to get me up off the ground.
One of the coyotes at the Mill Pond seems to be sleeping late into the morning. They’re easy to sneak up on, they can’t get away, they have no legs. They too are slacking off on their duties to keep the hoard of geese away from contributing tons of goose poop all over the park.
By 10 am the Rotten Ronny McDonny’s drive thru is lined up with 11 cars waiting to order McSlop. From Ronny McDonnys past LifeTime Fitness I see all kinds of Rotten Ronny’s wrappers, cups and bags adorning the gutters and boulevard. A testament of the Ronny McDonny patrons.
Walking across the pedestrian bridge over 169, I pass Elm Creek Brewery, I could go for a beer this time of morning. Sadly, they open at noon. Ahead from the bridge I hear the young screams and laughter from Kindercare. From the bridge, you look down into their outdoor compound. It’s a riot of kidlets running around, riding tricycles into each other. Theres a splash pad, one kidlet is wearing a plastic sand bucket asa helmet. Another sprays the adult Kindercare warden. It’s complete pandemonium and chaos that makes me smile.
Caribou Coffee has weak iced tea. Just Love Coffee has better iced tea. And their sandwiches are made with waffle bread! Both are busy with a mix of generations. Some working, some visiting, some meeting discussing business.
Heading into Target to pick up some items, I hear a police siren heading north on 169. As the sirened squad car heads north, from the woodlot south of Target near the dental office, there’s a chorus of coyotes howling in unison with the squad car. To add more irony, I spot a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner in the parking lot. I hurry into Target in fear of an Acme Anvil falling on me.
The remaining half mile from Target to home is uneventful and alone. Except for the mail truck delivering mail and a man walking his Rottweiler. The Rottie is big and muscular. Clenched in it’s jaws is his “stick”, a four foot long tree branch the diameter of Folgers 3 pound coffee can. I say, “thats quite the stick he found!” He replied he would not leave without it. What a good dog.
I look forward to tomorrow’s walkabout.
