Greetings Earthlings, it is I your friend and recently retired 62 y.o. middle-aged mammal. Here with some scribbles in my sketchbook. I am weaving my way back into my art practice ever so slowly. It did not come roaring back to life once I was released from my decades-long sentence as a working stiff. But as with many things in life we wish to flourish, takes perseverance and patience.
I present you with some beacons of light for my art practice. Pam is coming up to spend a few days with me here at Moss Cottage and I think I will copy one or both of these into the pages of my sketchbook. We’ll also set up some still lifes out back and make some quirky masterpieces. I will certainly show all I create in an upcoming installment from my dispatches from the village of retirement.
Which by the way, is very very good and seeded throughout with bliss bombs as I remember that I will not be returning to the classroom in 12 days as I would in any other year since 1996. Also my run-on sentences should earn a prize or at least a smattering of gold stars. I will imagine them glittering up at me from the walkway when I leave the house later and climb into my chariot. Be generous. I like gold stars as much as the silver ones in the night sky and oh by the way Orion is coming into view now in the pre-dawn morning.
Both painted in the mid-century by artist Gyrth Russell (1892-1970)
As for the jackassery that continues to play out on our American soil,
Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Do not become bitter or hostile. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble. We will find a way to make a way out of no way.
-John Lewis
Also I have a good deed to report. After I returned home from the Superman matinee earlier this week I noticed that someone had nailed back into place 3-4 missing fence posts. I had gaps in the fence and had been collecting the old posts as they fell and meant to call a handyman to put new ones up. My neighbor swears it wasn’t him. In spite of our uncertain times people are still quietly doing very good work in the world.
Also I got a new roof. On top of the original wood shingles were many layers of asphalt roofing. This was a noisy operation, but one that is now, thankfully, over.
And here is a photo of my sister and I sitting on Moss Cottage circa 2003. I was a little 39-year-old!
Okay let me hurry and click publish so I can at least run the vacuum and clean the bathroom and put a fresh wig on before Pamela Marie arrives for our long slumber partay set to begin in 90 minutes or so!
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I am so, so happy that you are enjoying your “new life” away from the work force. Here in Australia I had that experience almost 10 years ago, and these have been just about the happiest time of my life. You are now in control of your own time ….. possibly for the first time! Love reading your posts and thank you for sharing.
So happy for you that you are now officially a full-time artist. I have been out on disability this whole year and don’t think I will be going back to work. I am 65 so I don’t want to anyways. Just paid off my student loan this month, and expenses are at a minimum. I am diving into my art again just like you and ordered a whole new set of gouache and sharpened my brushes and cleaned my pencils. TTFN.
I can not begin to tell you how happy YOUR retirement has made me. As you revel in not working, your faithful readers are sharing your glee and delighting in your newly found freedom.
Please return to having fun.
XO
I’m so happy for you and Moss Cottage getting a new roof.
And it does my heart well when I hear stories about the kindness of others, or I experience it first-hand.
Be well and keep on enjoying your new life of being retired. It is so nice not needing an alarm!
Hi retiree! I always regard run on sentences as a kind of playfulness and lightheartedness. The weight is coming off your shoulders and you are seeing the world through a different lens. Such fun. So I am sending you a constellation of gold stars. This is a lovely post.
Sister!
Do you think since that photo was taken in 2003 I should get rid of that long sleeved gray t-shirt that I still love – and wear despite the presence of some small holes?
Enjoy your sister time. I envy your visit. Haven’t had that opportunity in 4 years since becoming the caregiver.
I am continuing to enjoy painting since Sketchbookery and Oh My Gouache of years past.
Any new course developing under those cute wigs now that you’re a retired school mark hmmm?
Thanks so for sharing little bits of your life with all of us. I made your “remains of the day journal” a few years ago. It was so much fun. It is so nice to see you enjoying your retirement. I am at least 10 years older than you and everyday I enjoy playing in my junk journals/glue books. Thanks again for your dispatches. Love them. Have a wonderful summer!!
So glad that you are soaking up lots of great things since you’ve retired! I always love seeing your work and it is super-fun to see the things that come out of your painting-with-your-sister sessions. One day if it ever sounds like it would be fun to host some group sessions like you did a year or so ago, I’d love to hear about it. I would be very happy to pay to be part of a painting group (hint hint). Maybe that’s a never or a definite not-now for sure. It’s time to do exactly what you want to do! Thanks for the John Lewis quote. So important to stay as collected as possible during this disturbing time in the US. Thank goodness for art to keep us as sane as is possible.
How fun ! Enjoy !!!
Say a big hello and a hug to Pam!!!!!
Miss you two
Say a big hello and a hug to Pam!!!!!
Miss you two
Welcome to the Village of Retirement! So happy you are my new neighbor! And so happy you have a good neighbor!
Thanks so much for the words from John Lewis. Much needed. I am trying to imprint them on my heat and in my mind. I fight the urge to run screaming and crying out why should this be now ??? I revert to my 5 YO self saying IT’S not fair!
have a wonderful arty week! and i do declare…your drawn faces are looking more relaxed and happy!
Every day is a Holiday!
I am so happy to read your dispatches from the land of retirement! Yay for working your way back into your art practice!