I NEVER KNEW...

Day 31

I NEVER KNEW one full month of retirement could pass so quickly! I've been enjoying the time freedom and experiences that come from retirement...and I'm only 40!

I NEVER KNEW retirement could be so good!

I NEVER KNEW how many moms there are in the mornings, in the hallways of the school my children attend. I've been taking my children to school for the first time in my life and have enjoyed every single day.

I NEVER KNEW what women talked about while dropping off their children for school. I've heard about nursing, labor, cycles, allergies, 'MOPS' events (still not quite sure what those are), books with titles I don't understand, characters in movies and tv shows whose names I've never heard before. I've heard about news events that I didn't know were news events (things like Facebook frustrations, menus that have changed in some restaurant and apparently is no longer offering something that was once on the menu), laundry, cooking, and much, much, much more.

I NEVER KNEW how much I could contribute to conversations like those...with the exception of the cycles and MOPS and books with titles I don't understand and characters in movies and tv shows whose names I've never heard and the news events that I didn't know were news events.

I NEVER KNEW how little I knew about the world around me. What it boils down to is that there is very little I can contribute to a conversation, but I can listen!

I NEVER KNEW how much I can 'plan' to do things that never get done (my new checklist is working great! I always have 100% of the things on my list checked off at the end of the day...I just write them down as I do them and then check 'em off!).

I NEVER KNEW how very long it took to do the laundry (especially when you dry wet diapers that haven't been washed yet).

I NEVER KNEW that I could literraly be in the kitchen all day if I'm not careful. I can make breakfast, clean up breakfast and then end up in the kitchen getting lunch ready in a matter of minutes. Then, after cleaning up lunch, find myself getting things ready for dinner...

There are lots of these 'I NEVER KNEW' moments that I have had...I'm just grateful I have a loving spouse who accepts my failures as best efforts and moves on without judging me.