#SOL20 Day 17. Things I Love About My Life

Today I turn 63. I don't feel much different than I did at 40. In fact, a few things have shocked me lately.

• I am one of the "older Americans" at risk for Covid19
• I can shop early at some of the stores that are doing special hours for the "elderly"

So I decided today I needed to make a list of the things I love about life right now!

1. Senior discounts. First Tuesday of the month at the pharmacy, hotel discounts, movie theatre discounts...
2. Early bird specials!
3. Being retired. I can plan my days just how I like. And if I don't get my list done? Well, there's always tomorrow.
4. People think because I'm old, I'm wise. I'm not. They just think I am.
5. My hubby and I are the "cute" old couple now.
6. Technology. I grew up with party lines. Now I can Facetime with a friend across the world and my grandkids!
7. Also, technology--the internet makes connecting to the world so easy. And who doesn't need connections of any kind today!
8. Plants and flowers of any kind--even fake ones in my windowsill when it's too early for real ones.
9. Not exchanging presents with my husband anymore and instead, investing in "experiences". Concerts, vacations, plays are all better than more things. 
10. Now I can go early to shop at many stores!
11. Buying myself presents.
12. My kids think I'm really old so they worry about me.
13. Wine every day is good for me.
14. Netflix.
15. Chloe is getting as old as me and doesn't need quite so many walks!
16. A husband who will cook me a good steak when all the restaurants are closed, even though he can't eat one.
17. Facebook, Two Writing Teachers, and #100daysofnotebooking. Seriously. these are my connections right now. Thanks for checking in!

Celebrate!

LIfe has been good for this old retired teacher--although I don't feel old and I've been subbing a lot, so sometimes I don't feel retired. Wait! Yes, I do. There's no bag of grading and planning coming home with me every day :)  This week's celebrations were easy to find and you'll probably hear more about them in the weeks to come.

1. A former student and speech kid texted me the other day and invited me to a reception in which she will be receiving a Congressional Merit Award. I had no idea what this award was but told her I'd be honored. This is a student who has kept in touch with me throughout the school year. She filled me in on speech happenings, even thanking me at the end of the season for my part in her speech career. I haven't seen her to ask about this award, but if it's this, I'm incredibly honored that she asked me to attend.




2, Twice in the last couple of weeks I've been asked to sub in classrooms because the kids asked for me and teachers were more than willing to have me. It's nice. When I taught full time I often didn't ask for specific subs, just took the luck of the draw. Although, in my 28 years, there were a couple that I specifically asked that they NOT sub in my room. And it was because of the way the kids talked about them. They were generally unfair and tried to impose their own rules in a room where they really didn't know the kids. I'm glad that the kids know me well enough and still want me to sub in their room.

3. Turning 60 is a big birthday in our friend group the last year or two and unless you plan your own party like I did, our group is going to plan you a surprise party. Last October, we dressed as hippies and surprised the birthday girl and took her out on the town,

Tonight, we're all traveling about an hour from me (much longer for some) to surprise another friend. He owns his own exterminator company, so we had shirts made for the occasion (and yes. A couple of us will dress as bugs). We also have gray afro wigs to match his curly hair.

He doesn't know we're coming.
He doesn't know some others are coming.
He definitely doesn't know about the shirts and the wigs.

Should be fun!

Today's writing quote: "Make notes--I've lost more material than I've ever written. Contrary to popular opinion, it's not still up there in one's brain. It's in outer space and it ain't ever coming back."   Judith Guest