is no big deal...

The paper work is signed, witnessed, notarized and acknowledged by the monoliths. The boss informed and the countdown in progress. I am retiring in September. The daily grind is smoother and I feel less stress than I have ever felt in my working career. My humor has returned. They tell me I'm smiling more.
I quit smoking 3 months ago and feel like a different person. After 40 years I should think so. Coupled with alcohol cessation 14 months ago and now my pending retirement, I'm on the cusp. It's scary proceeding into middle age now with a certain anxiety about the future but somehow I'm not as apprehensive as I thought I'd be. This is what I been working for half my life so I'm taking my old position of letting the future take care of itself now. It got me through the folly of my youth but these days I got better plans see. I'm smarter. Going on 57 is about where I would like to start slowing down and reconsider the scenery while there's still time. Eliminating 3 major stressors and taking more naps will help with that transition to a sharper focus.

The moms is growing ever more dotty in her old age and other than dropping in on her now and then, there's no more I can do for her. She's taken care of. Major Operation that one but it was done right. Soon, and I say soon rather than later, more hard decisions are going to be made and the fight begins anew until she slips away, robbed of her senses. It's a hard thing to watch.

So here I am trying to downplay this retirement thing at work because it's only been a 20 year run and not all together that much fun and not like some of these guys that stick around 35 years or more and me I just want to fade and I don't think I'm getting out of there without notice because everybody wants to remind me and I told 'em no fanfare but after working there for so long I know the drill.