equinox musings

We retired from full-time farming two years ago. My days are a bit slower now but my husband has been equally as busy as before with home remodel and landscaping. I help him as needed, babysit grandchildren when asked, and volunteer…finding a balance of work and leisure time.

The fall equinox in our hemisphere means equal hours of day and night. We enjoy equal parts cold and heat as sun shines brightly during the day but not as strongly. On my walk, I notice the prairie seems equally dead and alive…some plants bloom wildly in a last hurrah and others have dried brown, boasting seeds.

We reap what we sow and sow what we reap. The past holds seed for a future harvest. Darkness and light, cold and heat, planting and harvest, rest and work, life and death all have their seasons. The clock ticks, the calendar page turns, and another equinox passes.

milkweed pods burst silk

tiny seeds carried away

future monarch’s food

retired (or just tired)

Thank God for retirement! People may think the idea unbiblical but I disagree. God told Moses that priests should serve from age 25-50 and then retire.* They could help the younger priests after that. Of course, you don’t quit working; just quit working full-time and do what you can to help the next generation(s). You are free from the pressure to perform!

You must earn this stage of life and then you can reap the blessings of age. It’s hard for many to have enough to live on in later years because none of us know how long we’ll live so what is “enough”? It may be elusive but what a grand concept…to finally make time for the things you really want to do. Travel, exercise, volunteer, pray, read, spend time with spouse, visit friends, enjoy grandchildren, try hobbies, write poetry!

Growing older is not for the faint of heart, especially as the heart may faint. Body parts give out and may need repair or replacement but there’s no real cure for aging. You may even reach invisibility…people no longer pay attention to you which can be frustrating because you finally have the wisdom of experience! Yet now you are free to be you without worrying what other people think…except you want to be a better example to the youngsters.

to quote my dear aunt,

“aging is not for wimps”

travel down new roads

*Numbers 8:24-26

Linked with dVerse poets where Frank J. Tassone is hosting haibuns…

in real time

retirement arrived

finally unexpectedly

what does it mean??

too tired / put on new wheels

older & wiser (we can hope)

still too young to die!

(Lord willing)

got some good years ahead

to leave lasting imprint

(or learn at last to listen)

golden & embolden

dance a brave attempt

who cares / what

people think

be the real (old) you / me

restless dreamers

remodel our lives

unparalleled

committing

random acts of poetry