Retirement Countdown 2025

Last month was my 60th birthday. I can't believe it arrived. For almost a decade I was dangling around telling people I'm in my 50s. Now that is not the case, I ponder what now? An R&B singer, Aaliyah had a song titled,  " Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number". I thought of this, and say, really is it just a number?  To me, it's a statement that I'm no longer in "that" demographic of individuals who are under 60. I'm with the group now that borders on pre retirement age to full on, no longer working. Well generally. I think of my high school classmates who are all turning 60 this year in 2025. To think just 35+ years out of high school we were young and invincible. As life moves on, we take on our careers, family, and new lifestyle of being adults. i.e. paying taxes, voting, and managing our lives as best as we can. Surreal.  Union Square, San Francisco, CA   Personally, as I prepare my impending retirement from my current employer, I'm a bit a...

One week ago today, our boxer, Jack died during a Sunday morning walk around the neighborhood. I knew he wasn't well in the last couple of years, but did't want to admit that he was getting old and his health was failing. The gregarious and easy going Jack smelled everything along the way. That is how dogs usually see their world, by their sense of smell. His death was sudden and quick, his heart failed. He collapsed and his paws were sprawled on the pavement. I quickly held him up to try to revive him at the same time calling my partner to come over and help me. But sadly, the remaining minutes we tried to save him ultimately turned to comforting and looking at him with compassion until he took his last breath. It was devastating. I cried and cried. We lost someone who was part of our family, our life for almost 10 years.   So, today, I'm celebrating his life and sharing his image to remember that he wasn't just a dog but an amazing addition to the fa...