Thursday, March 11, 2010

Newly Retired

The other night I overheard a conversation while I was sitting in a restaurant. The woman had recently retired. She said rather forlornly, “I can’t get out of my nightgown in the morning.” I glanced across the aisle to see her dazed expression. Like a slap across the face to wake me up, it forced me to think of when I first sold my bookshop.

I was in the habit of working 5 ½ to 6 days a week. In December it was always seven days of ten-hours-a-day with only Christmas Day off. The day after was just as busy as the day before. No complaint. I loved it. And then I sold the business with plans to start a brand new adventure by moving out of state.

In the meantime I woke in the morning with no destination, no demands on my time, no need to be anywhere in particular. I woke in the morning without having to jump into the shower and rush to get ready. I was in shock without knowing it. All these great blocks of time were in front of me and I didn’t know how to respond to them. It was like being in the middle of a joyful festival then being plunked away and put into solitary.

O f course it passed. Soon memorable lunch dates, dinner parties and outings came before the frenzy of packing up, closing accounts, etc. but it was that shock of ‘dead time’ that I vividly remember.

Monday, March 01, 2010

Battle of the Waxhaws

This past weekend I attended a seminar in Lancaster, South Carolina on the debate of the Battle of the Waxhaws also known as Buford’s Defeat/Massacre/Battleground. A “massacre or not” was the question. That question raised passionate responses from opposing thoughts and beliefs at the conference. But the passion that resulted from this battle back during the Revolutionary War brought many Patriots off the fence and into uniform. It also tagged Lt.Col. Banastre Tarleton with the nickname ‘Bloody Ban’ that he carried the rest of his life.

Aside from all the information I learned, it was great to discuss the Revolutionary War with like-minded people at the Friday night Reception. It isn’t easy to find to folks discuss the eighteenth century on an everyday basis. I also came away with a packet jammed full of relevant reading/research material and, of course, a few more signed books to add to my constantly growing collection. I also drooled over the beautiful art work available for purchasing. Alas, sometimes one has to choose………. Many thanks to the folks at the Andrew Jackson State Park for this interesting day. I'll be returning to the area for some more exploring.