The trials of an old man - The first thing to go is not your memory | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Shame on those of you who thought this would be an off color post.

    When you retire and do not have to meet a schedule, every event in the future becomes a point of stress and trepidation. Many people think that old people lose their memory. They don't. They just lose their track of time. That is why you need to make notes on the paper Calendar.

    One of my old buddies who is still building toward his retirement asked if I would meet the Pest Treatment Company at his house this morning. I of course said yes. That was about two weeks ago. As usual, I had to make a few notes and reminders so I would not miss the appointment.

    Such is the daily challenges of retirement. I have no daily routine, no ongoing clock to punch, no more customers to see, and finally absolutely nothing to do that I do not want to do. So what happens when I am confronted with a definite "TODO?" Naturally, I fret about not forgetting the appointment. Combine that with the fact that I am a founding member of OCPD ( Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder ) and you have what amounts to a highly stressful event. Morris Massey called it a "Significant Emotional Event." When you get older, everything is a "Significant Emotional Event."

    If you are a techno-nerd you also use other more technical means as a reminder. I entered a reminder in the Iphone, Ipad, and Laptop. I asked my friend to text me on the morning of the event so I would not forget.

    Well this morning is the impending event at 11:00 AM. I have been awake since 4:00 AM in preparation for the 30-minute event. Imagine my anger if the "BUG MAN" calls to postpone the visit.

    I may post an update in the comment section for those of you who are still on a timetable not of your own making. It should be instructive for you in planning your retirement.


   I just received his text message reminding me that the "BUG MAN" is coming at 11:00 AM this morning. I think the problem is that I have too many places to put my reminder notes, but I could be wrong. Some of those things update from the cloud and I probably could have just gone outside and looked up to see the reminder.

   I just purchased tickets for two concerts with my Daughter. Alan Jackson in January 2017 and Neil Diamond in April 2017. Excuse me while I make my reminders for these events. If you are contemplating our retirement I have just a short of bit of advice.

    "DON'T RETIRE JUST CHANGE YOUR OCCUPATION,
AN IDLE MIND IS THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP"