All that it ever was

April 24, 2009


What a beautiful day in Chautauqua. Many days in Chautauqua seem to be excellent.

The days are so nice that’s it’s difficult not to have an upbeat attitude. On the ride down here from the Big B, I was listening to Coast to Coast AM and the show had a guest on reiterating that, even in your 50s, if you wake up, it’s a great day. Let the air be filled with optimism!

When I arrived here, a neighbor greeted me and said there is nothing to worry about. Judy and I can make ends meet no matter what, if we put our minds to it. So just enjoy the day! What a day it’s been. The first day of true summer. Even at 8 p.m., it’s 80 degrees and the windows are wide open.

Judy (the blessed wife) told me yesterday that the job I had was a good-paying job, but it wasn’t a good job. I was like an automaton stuck on the word widget assembly line. I was all I was ever going to be at The News – a pagination jockey. Nothing more, nothing less. Ten more years of that and then hang up the keyboard. No thanks, dudettes. I’d like to try something different for a change. Forget about that job. Let it reside in the past as a lengthy experience that helped me successfully raise a family, but now it’s done. It’s history. You can’t go back. Toastarama.

There’s a new horizon ahead. Focus on that and be happy. What an opportunity you have to make a difference in this world now that you are free of the bonds of corporate slavery.

With a positive attitude, no matter the outcome, it will be good.

Again, my friendly neighbor advised me that he’s seen many people leave their jobs, and it takes a year before they start to get calm down mentally, even in retirement, because of the displacement factor. That’s great, knowing that I’m not alone in this bad-ass tape loop that berates me for my bold decision. It’s OK. It really is. My children, wife and friends still love me. I am the same person, only more interesting.

On a broader scale, when will America get its act together? How long will this crushing recession continue? The suit boys that Harvard, Yale and Princeton churned out and put in charge of corporate America sure have made a mess of things. “Me, me, me, me, me.”

I think it’s time to turn most of the operations over to women. Men seem to be sorely out of touch and deserving of castration. Let the women lead, I say.

All is well on this gorgeous Chautauqua day, and nothing can ever change that. I am headed to a bright future. We’ll have to see what it is – teacher, househusband, free-lance writer.

On to what awaits!