I was reading Mike's thread about the old "Who owns a Busse knife..." thread, and found this, posted by me on February 28, 2002.
"Electrical Engineer, also picked up an MBA. Former Manager of Metering Services for Alabama Power Company. In the right place at the right time for a management forces reduction buyout last spring, so find myself retired at age 55."
At the time that was written, I was set financially for a comfortable, if not lavish, retirement, was not yet adjusted to not having a job to go to every day, and was somewhat at loose ends. The remainder of life seemed to stretch out in a defined path. Frankly, I was bored, but trying hard to occupy myself with church work, my recreational interests, and accumulating Busse knives. I had no idea that looming just 5 months away was the beginning of the most important job I have ever had. July 14, 2002, Kim's hit and run occurred. Ahead of me was the beginning of two long years of waiting at bedside, in a hospital and a nursing home, trying to see that Kim received the care she needed and doing everything my imagination could dream up to provide stimulation to Kim in the hopes that some day she would look at me, smile again, and communicate. Now I have been thankfully relegated to being her driver, financial manager, and an ever less needed caretaker.
One thing that life has taught me is that, just when you are absolutely positive that things are going to play out in a certain way, life will always throw you a curve ball. You have three choices, hit the thing, whiff it, or let it knock you down. And there will always be another curve ball coming. Circumstances will always change. Life will not stand still. The only fatal mistake is to refuse to get up to bat again.
And if you wait for the perfect time and circumstance to buy that Busse knife you want, you may never buy it.
"Electrical Engineer, also picked up an MBA. Former Manager of Metering Services for Alabama Power Company. In the right place at the right time for a management forces reduction buyout last spring, so find myself retired at age 55."
At the time that was written, I was set financially for a comfortable, if not lavish, retirement, was not yet adjusted to not having a job to go to every day, and was somewhat at loose ends. The remainder of life seemed to stretch out in a defined path. Frankly, I was bored, but trying hard to occupy myself with church work, my recreational interests, and accumulating Busse knives. I had no idea that looming just 5 months away was the beginning of the most important job I have ever had. July 14, 2002, Kim's hit and run occurred. Ahead of me was the beginning of two long years of waiting at bedside, in a hospital and a nursing home, trying to see that Kim received the care she needed and doing everything my imagination could dream up to provide stimulation to Kim in the hopes that some day she would look at me, smile again, and communicate. Now I have been thankfully relegated to being her driver, financial manager, and an ever less needed caretaker.
One thing that life has taught me is that, just when you are absolutely positive that things are going to play out in a certain way, life will always throw you a curve ball. You have three choices, hit the thing, whiff it, or let it knock you down. And there will always be another curve ball coming. Circumstances will always change. Life will not stand still. The only fatal mistake is to refuse to get up to bat again.
And if you wait for the perfect time and circumstance to buy that Busse knife you want, you may never buy it.
