ABOUT ME
I am another baby boomer who "retired" in 2005 (still not
quite sure whose choice that was). Strongly introverted as a child, I read
early and often and developed a deep interest in all things related to science.
Sputnik was a big deal in my life, as were biology, chemistry, physics, and
math at various times. Another other big interest was music, specifically
playing the drums. I was not into sports and was considered a bit of an oddball
by the other kids in our small Kansas farm town. Although I had two siblings, I
was the youngest by over 10 years ("oops" child, I guess), so I was
raised as if I were an only child.
As you might expect, I had trouble deciding on a major in college, but
ultimately became a civil engineer in the early 70's. My number was not called
for the military draft, and I went to work for a consulting firm. Existence was
painfully lonely for a few years; I became a science fiction fan, worked a lot,
and spent a lot of time in bars hoping to meet someone. For some reason, my
wife took pity on me and invited a shy young engineer to sit with her at a downtown
Dallas cafeteria for lunch. We got married, had a child and a house---bang, just
like that.
Another couple of years, and we decided to take an opportunity working
for the City of Colorado Springs. I remember thinking we would only be here 4
or 5 years while the economy recovered and then I would go back and get a real
job in the private sector. Well, we had another child, a job promotion, my wife's
family moved here, another house, and next thing you know we've been here
thirty years. Blink of an eye and all that. I wound up my career as the CEO of
the local municipal utility, and, looking back, I don't think I would do too much
differently if I had to do it again. One big exception: I would have worked
harder to develop some friendships, but I will write more on that elsewhere.
Retirement came a little early, and we have struggled a bit to find our
bearings. It is not at all like I thought it might be, but most of the time it
still seems like I should be getting a letter any day now informing me it's
over and now I have to go back to work. We have taken up bridge, golf,and mah-Jong.
We have quit drinking and smoking. We have started exercising at the gym, lost
weight, and started meditating. We are close to two beautiful grandkids. I have done a lot of volunteer stuff. Lots of
DIY projects around the house.
Now, I'm sitting here pondering what to do next. We are empty nesters,
and we are ready to move on to something else but we are not sure what. There
is lots of stuff we have not yet tried, and we are considering relocating. Starting
this blog and doing some writing is another thing I have always wanted to do.
Maybe it will open up some new pathways to ideas for our future.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
My dad ran a gas station for over 40 years in a small farm
town named Horton, Kansas. I worked there every summer starting at age 11 until I left home. The station
was kind of a hodgepodge of small buildings that had been connected and added onto
over the years. The newest addition was
a small air conditioned area where people came in to pay their bills and maybe
purchase some refreshments. The most
prominent feature of this room that I recall was an old fashioned red Coca-Cola
pop cooler –the kind where the glass bottles were immersed in about six or 8
inches of ice cold water that continuously circulated through. (This was well
before the advent of aluminum cans.)
The majority of our customers were
farmers who had come into
town on some errand and stopped in to pass some time in the cool air.
The pop cooler was a popular destination
especially on hot summer days, and it was not unusual for 5 or 6 men to
be hanging
around;everyone dressed in their blue denim Sears and Roebuck coveralls,
some more worn than others. As a young teenager, one of my jobs was to
keep the
cooler full, clear away the empty bottles and candy wrappers, and sweep
the concrete floor. It
seemed like people always tracked in a bunch of dirt, and the smokers
never
actually hit any of the ashtrays with their ashes, but I got to listen
to a lot of different viewpoints.
Some of my fondest memories are of those times when several
people gathered 'round the cooler to gossip, complain, and generally share their views of the
world. Often, somebody learned something from someone, and more than once I
heard people sharing their compassion. In a way, that is the kind of place I
would like this blog to be; that is why I chose to name it after the pop cooler
in my dad’s gas station.
My goal is to share some memories and
thoughts and hopefully meet others who care enough to share as well. My
Dad passed away and left very little in the way of things to remember
him by. I hope this blog lets my kids and grandkids know a little about
him, and me, too. Maybe we will all learn something along the way while
we are passing some time.
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