Retirement - Living, Laughing & Learning

By Kelly Stewart

There finally comes a time in a person’s life where they actually slow down long enough to look around them and see what they have. That time for me was going into retirement and as my father always said, “Things do happen for a reason”. My oldest daughter and her husband moved into our house long enough to get their new place finished and along with them they brought a little lady known as Miss Elliot. I cannot express in words the feelings and emotions that having a one and a half year old running around your house can bring out of you. That alone gave me the drive to write this book.
As the title states “Living, Laughing & Learning” we have done it all. Our lives have evolved around hard work which has allowed us to live the life we have. Now is when life really begins.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365733055

Book preview

Retirement - Living, Laughing & Learning

Retirement - Living, Laughing & Learning

Kelly Stewart

2017

Copyright © 2017 by Kelly Stewart

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-365-73305-5

Introduction

There finally comes a time in a person’s life where they actually slow down long enough to look around them and see what they have.  That time for me was going into retirement and as my father always said, Things do happen for a reason.  My oldest daughter and her husband moved into our house long enough to get their new place finished and along with them they brought a little lady known as Miss Elliot.  I cannot express in words the feelings and emotions that having a one and a half year old running around your house can bring out of you.  That alone gave me the drive to write this book.

As the title states Living, Laughing & Learning we have done it all.  Our lives have evolved around hard work which has allowed us to live the life we have.  Now is when life really begins.                                                 Laughing has taken us through the good times and the bad, the joys of life and the hurt that it can bring, and also giving us new and exciting characters to sit in for our loved ones we have lost.  Learning is the fascinating part of the puzzle due to the fact that I didn’t think I could see things the same way as other people had always told me, until young Miss Elliot arrived. 

I have found out that everything people have tried to tell me is likely true.  From the working so hard you will miss your kids growing up to you will have more time to spend with grandchildren than you did your own.  It is while looking into Miss Elliot’s bright, shiny eyes and hearing her laugh that I am able to remember all of the memories that I had along the way and bringing them to print to share with you.

More importantly this is not just a story about my journey but also one that you can change out the characters and make it your own.  I just hope you have as much fun as I did.  Hope you enjoy.

Finding a Friend (that does not speak)

Anyone who has not had the opportunity to have children or a pet should get one or the other or both.  There is an old saying that you should have a child before you get a pet, or maybe hold that a minute, it might have been before you have a child you should have a pet!

When you walk into a pet store and look into the eyes of your purchase, pick them up and hold them, and take them back to your car ......they are no longer a pet.  They will be your closest companion and will listen to every story or concern you have even if they have heard it a thousand times before.  Sometimes you even do not have to go to a pet store because they will just show up on your step.

I had a dog named Snoopy named after Charlie Brown who bit everyone in the family except my mom.  I still remember the day that one hundred pound Snoopy wedged himself under the bed after nipping my dad’s finger when he told him to get off their bed.  It likely had nothing to do with the dog being sound asleep and dad going to retrieve my hockey stick after he was bit.

I had two cats that I found as a kid wondering around our yard.  One was named Boris after what I think was the Canada – Russia series in 1972.  The other one was named Twerky after a move Marley Cirrus would make famous later in life.  Actually I think we named her that after the noise she made when she wanted fed.  Then there was Snoopy, the dog that bit everyone except mom and the reason I have two bite marks on my arm to remember him by.  I suppose if someone pinched my ear with a chocker chain while putting me on my run, I might have done the same.

The year 2016 was not a good one for the Stewart Family as we had to say goodbye to our 120 pound golden lab Macey and Nellie the thirteen plus year old cantankerous old barn cat that wandered into our life.  I cannot tell you how hard it was to type with her trying to lay on the keyboard.  Our family cried more tears and hurt worse than we have ever done for some family and friends.  If anyone ever tries to tell you what owning a pet is about, you just need to remind them about family.