Angelbeldam.net

I am a couple of weeks into retirement now, and I think I’m finally settling in. The key was to remind myself that, technically, I am still on paid leave and goofing off is allowed when on leave. My paid leave ends April 30th, and my life as an official retiree starts on what would have been my dad’s 84th birthday.

I have been thinking about him a lot. What would he have thought of me? Of this life I have chosen? The decision to be me as authentically as I can? It’s going to be 10 years since he passed this October, and I miss him but I’m fairly certain he would have been a MAGAT and that might have broken me.

All that is to say that I have no idea if he would have approved, but I think I’m going to like being retired. If I could just figure out the budget. I/we should have had a handle on this before I retired, but there wasn’t enough time, so we’re winging it. Not a status I’ve ever been comfortable with but there you go.

Last week, my son visited for the first time, and it was great seeing him. I’ve missed him. We weren’t sure how he would like it here and we were setting the bar low…hoping it just didn’t suck. Seems we did at least that, so I’m grateful.

After he left, Lil J Dawg came to spend the night. He’s not so little anymore, and he’s so smart and curious and easily bored, which isn’t always the easiest combo for a couple of old ladies, especially since it was rainy, and the swing set is not set up, so no time outdoors to wear him out.

Since we don’t see him every day, the changes in how he’s grown are quite dramatic and amazing. Tennessee loved having him here, as did I, though watching her with him is what makes me most happy. The only real hiccup is Lil J is afraid of both the dog and the cat so they both ended up locked up a lot which neither liked very much.

Needless to say, I did not get much writing done, and today is the first day I’ve written anything of significance in a while, and it feels pretty good. I’ve been thinking, and I may have mentioned this before, but I think I’m going to start a newsletter dedicated to my new “profession” as an author, like what I’m learning and projects I’m doing, my struggles and successes.

I have a bare-bones web page for my author site at www.angelbeldam.net with a link to subscribe to the newsletter, but I don’t have anything else done yet.  It feels good to get a basic site up and running. It would be good if I could actually get something ready to publish, so there would be something to sell on there, but whatever… baby steps.

I will continue to write this blog as it’s a place for me to share and vent and in theory, I’ll be able to post more often, but how often will depend on what other projects I’m working on.

Take care my friends.