|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Opining of a Cranky Old Man
Cranky Old Man Explains How Retirement Works for
Those Who Worry What to Do
For those who think retirement is time to
prepare for one’s “dirt nap”, think again!
By Bill Kalmar, Retiree
 June 22, 2009 - Some of our friends who have yet to
experience the joy of retirement wonder what they will do all day once
they jettison themselves from the daily grind of work. It is their
feeling that retirees sit home all day and watch “Court TV” and reruns
of “The Andy Griffith Show”. Balderdash!
Since retiring in 2003 as Director of Quality and
Customer Service in the Engler administration, our lives have been
filled with excitement everyday. Let me give you a peak at our
June/July calendar:
● Attended Tigers game with my son, Bill, Jr. –
our team won!
● Watched grandson Daniel play in the school band
at a concert
● Participated in an 8K run – came in second in
my age group (there were only two in my age group!)
| |
More by Bill Kilmar |
|
| |
Seniors Body
Clock Ticking Better than Ever after Robotic Surgery Removes Prostate
Cancer
 An anniversary to savor with a 8 miles of running and
18-mile bike ride
By Bill Kalmar, Retiree
May 28, 2009
Columnist Happy Today as Grandmother Celebrates 105
Tomorrow - 105 Must be New 90!
 Marianne Linari remains vibrant and continues to enjoy
the influx of family and friends; has 38 great-great grandchildren, great
grandchildren and grandchildren
May 21, 2009
It’s Hard to Be Cranky with Quality and Customer
Service On the Rebound
That was the week that was! I'm not even cranky
anymore!
May 1, 2009
Believe It or Not, the Cranky Old Man Has Some Things
He Likes
Wisest choice - wife of 45 years who has put up
with his idiosyncrasies and being a cranky old man
Feb. 23, 2009
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Says Our Cranky Old
Man
He is mad, really mad and wants you to know the
reasons; they may be making you mad, too
Feb. 10, 2009
Disgusting: Babies
in Public, Kids Gone Wild, Adults Unaware of
Digital TV, Sports Taking Over Family
Jan. 12, 2009
A Retiree’s Lament: Stop The World I Want To Get Off!
Editor’s Note: Ever wonder why people often refer to
senior citizens as “cranky old men.” Read this column by our occasional
contributor, who is a retired senior.
Dec. 31, 2008
Top Ten Things One Senior Citizen Wants When
Holiday Shopping
Editor’s Note: Ever wonder why people often refer to
senior citizens as “cranky old men.” Read this column by our occasional
contributor, who is a retired senior.
Dec. 3, 2008
New Adventures of An Old Senior Citizen or
Facing the Reality of Aging
Watching Old Christine acclimate herself to new
challenges impacted me as I entered 2008 looking forward to turning 65
Sept. 12, 2008
Workplace Not Like When We Were There – It's the
Corporate Running of the Bulls
October 3, 2006
Thoughts of a Retiree in His Hammock on a Dog Day
Afternoon
July 12, 2006
Read more
Opinions & Analysis for Seniors |
|
● Traveled to Grosse Pointe for a birthday party
for granddaughter Caroline and grandsons David and Daniel (with three
children, two son-in-laws, a daughter-in-law and eleven grandchildren,
there is a birthday, an anniversary, a First Communion, a Confirmation
or a Bar Mitzvah every couple of weeks!)
● Drove to St. Louis to watch granddaughter
Jennifer in her dance recital.
● Celebrated the first anniversary of being
cancer free by taking my nurse to lunch
● Attended a Bar Mitzvah for a friend of the
family
● Had a colonoscopy and frankly that took up most
of my day
● Welcomed the Culligan Man into our home to
change the filters on our water purification system. Yes, there really
is a Culligan Man!
● Had an in-studio visit for an hour at the Dick
Purtan Show on radio station WOMC 104.3 in Ferndale, Michigan
● Attended a play-off baseball game for our two
grandsons Joseph and Alex. (they won!) All the grandchildren play
sports whether it is baseball, soccer, tennis or swimming and we try to
attend all their events.
● On top of all this I run five miles everyday
and then bike seven while my wife Mary goes to the gym daily for
aerobics.
Now does all this sound like a person who is not
enjoying retirement? Upcoming events and activities include:
● Lunch with some former co-workers at Roma Café
in Detroit
● Participation in a duathlon this coming Sunday
– a three mile run followed by 12 miles on a bike then another 3 mile
run
● The Fourth of July weekend will see us in Grand
Haven with all eleven grandchildren as our daughter from St. Louis will
be joining us. From there all eleven grandchildren will be at our home
in Lake Orion for a week! (Did we really agree to this!)
● And we already have tickets for the Christmas
Rock & Roll Spectacular on December at the Michael Guido Theater in
Dearborn and additional tickets for another Rock & Roll Spectacular on
February 13, 2010 for Valentine’s Day.
And if that doesn’t keep me busy I have
> a weekly column for “Frank Talk”, a weekly newspaper circulated in the
Midwest,
> a monthly column for Senior Advocate entitled “Whatdaya Think” (a
newspaper in Texas),
> A monthly column for Quality Digest magazine entitled “From the
Hammock”,
> I free-lance for the Detroit News, the Free Press, the Oakland Press,
the Detroiter and the Grosse Pointe News,
> along with periodic columns in the Senior Journal (when I’m cranky!).
> The USA Vacation Panel is another one of my responsibilities where I
discuss travel activities.
Periodically I am called upon to audition for radio
voice-overs although most of the spots these days are given to Sonny
Elliot – a local WWJ Radio weather prognosticator.
So for those who think that retirement is a time to
prepare for one’s “dirt nap”, think again!
It is a time to do the things that one enjoys – to
spend time with family and friends – and to enjoy the company of my wife
of 45 years, Mary. What could be better than this? I’m retired,
cranky - and loving it!
L Bill Kalmar is retired in Lake Orion, Michigan,
and is the former Director of the Michigan Quality Council. He is a
frequent contributor to SeniorJournal.com. His opinions are his own.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
