40 days and counting.....RETIREMENT!!!! Wow!........ 40 days, biblically speaking, has always been a significant number and I just realized that today is my signifcant number day!!! In a way I can empathize with Katie, I may need a Hwy5 epiphany. I thought I had all my ducks in a row and knew where I was going but as I sit here and think about it a phrase keeps popping into my head....NOW WHAT?.....I had that same question flash across my mind at age 20. I had finished 2 years of college, high school was only a memory, and I didn't have a clue of what I was going to do with my life. I was getting worrieder by the minute. My parents were getting that shifty eye'd " Are we going to have to support you for the rest of your life " look and demeanor( It was downright scary).That year our family went to Deer Valley Dude Ranch for vacation. I met a student nurse who sold me on the idea of being" a nurse". It was like I was attending a week long "nursing career sales seminar". She had year books with pictures, a long list of altruistic things she was accomplishing, and a great description of freshman initiation that sounded like it would be a real blast. I was hooked. The uniform was cutesie. I just knew I would look great in the cap and my dad had his checkbook out and had paid the tuition before I could say "I'll think about it". It was the most amazing thing. God sure has a funny way of working it all out. I went to a ranch to try to make friends with horses( didn't work), get some R&R, scope out the cute cowboys and I wind up a nurse. Go figure. In hind sight, that dude ranch was a pivot point in my life...a real milestone. It sent me in a direction that has lasted 40 years...wow. ( that number 40 again). (Jon and I were married 40 years this year too). " Now What?" I wonder if that dude ranch is still there? Think I'l check it out on the webb. Think there could be another "job seminar" going on there for me ? I wonder?

Only 2 months to go and I'm a free woman....h-u-u-m... that doesn't sound right. No I am not getting a divorse. In fact today is Jon's and my 40th anniversary. WoW. thats a long time. In 2 months " Lord willing and the crick don't rise" Iwill be retired. Jon is not retiring. He must continue on to support me and all my bad habits. I like the sound of that. Actually I think he likes work. I did not ever think that Jon was a control freak or anything but I do think he enjoys running his own business. He is such a good guy and a sweet boss and partner. He was having lunch with his partner the other day and they were disucssing a work problem and suddenly his partner said ,"Gee, I wish you were my dad". When Jon told me , I thought that was a pretty neat compliment. Jon is really good with people and he is so layed back and non-volitile that he keeps things cool and even where ever he is. He brings stability and logic into the midst of turmoil and believe me he gets plenty of that at work and at home........ I think I'll keep him for another 40. I have been blessed.