Being on the cusp of retirement I feel more content with my life than I think I ever have. Is that a common experience among those of you either retired or about to retire or am I living a fantasy? I remember my professor back in grad school saying that "Truth should not be judged by relevance." I thought is a wise saying then and think it even wiser now. I'm almost completely irrelevant to this world but sense a most pleasant and most bearable lightness to being without having to struggle to become or to prove myself. What say you?

What a beautiful place to be in.

I retired a few years ago at age 49. It still amazes me how much a job gets in the way of living. I loved my job and felt extremely productive and useful but now I'm doing the things that really count. I have time to make a difference in the lives of others and I feel great.

That's the place I'm moving toward.

I will be 75 years old in a few months, and I'll share that this is the most "together" part of my life that I remember.

Looking back over the years and all the struggles I contended with emotional and spiritual, helps me to realize what a blessing old age is. Now I can see more clearly than ever what really counts.

"All is vanity, except to love and serve you, Almighty Lord and God!" (I am paraphrasing something in The Imitation of Christ, I believe.)

I can attend Mass every day but Saturday, do a bit of volunteer work here and there, visit those I can who are sick, and am blessed with some family living nearby. All the other children of mine, and their families, I communicate with via phone or e-mail, or an occasional yearly trip they can make here. (I think my flyihg days are over, but I'll not say never!)

Peace in Jesus and Mary,

Dorothy