Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.
Ovid

How beautiful it is to do nothing and then rest afterwards.
Spanish Proverb

Brer Rabbit heads to the briar patch.

I had sworn I would forgo offeringto do any volunteer work until at least a month after I had signed off. Well I guess it has been three weeks so I guess my decision to volunteer at the Ciener Botanical Garden is not too premature. I had thought I would wait at least until Sept. which amazingly is almost here. I actually had thought that maybe I need to take even more time away from anything that smacked of responsibility. So we'll see. It is not like I can't change my mind.

All the people in the Third Chapter seemed to have made these global kinds of choices about what to do with the days of this chapter of life. I think I was intimidated by that and not sure what to do about any volunteering.

When I emailed Adrienne, she sent me a list of things that they need help with. Apparently they need help with photography! Not only would this allow me the chance to photo for myself, but I may smell a new lens out of the deal. And perhaps I can justify that $150 workshop on close up photography at Tony Avent's.


The briar patch is feeling pretty good. Maybe this is not too premature after all!

Guess there is some lesson about potential and being open to it.


Here's the address for the garden-
http://www.pauljcienerbotanicalgarden.org/

Am thinking about starting the Nancy B. Foster Intervention and Kidnapping Services. I will offer to go to people's offices. Whip the computer cables off their machines. Lash them into their rolling chairs and roll them to my car where I will load them in and take them to a place they like to go. Think it will fly?

5 am again. Worries me a little that I'm so wired but will get the sleep thing down eventually. Had been thinking about how I had told Dan that I was pleased that I was thinking of retirement as moving towards something rather than moving away from something. Had laughed at my hubris to think I really meant this. Those first couple of weeks I truly thought this was a long way from being true. But today I was on campus. I had always been thinking that once I closed the door on that chapter of my life that I couldn't go back there. Well it dawned on me that I can still participate in things around there just in the way that I choose. Talked to Michael M about the gallery and continuing to do stuff there. Had been so upset about not doing something for the custodians before I left. Well duh I can do it now and not feel rushed about it. Something about doors opening and closing.

It's 5 am and I'm awake. Not because of insomnia but rather because I'm excited about another day of retirement full of many things to do-many of which are long neglected. I'm especially struck by how perspective can seem to actually alter things in the past. I was mortified that co-workers had to pack up my office. When Jo laughed and said that sounded great as that was the part she hated the most, I knew that choosing another way of looking at things was again a powerful tool.