Is being retired an excuse for laziness?

I have become absolutely downright lazy. I don't care. The house is picked up and laundry gets done. I do the dishes and clean up the kitchen, but I don't dust until I absolutely have to - my daily movement is minimal. What's become of this life?

Bob says "we're retire, we can do what we want!" It's embarrassing! He's right, though, I must admit. So I take consternation in the fact of life that I did work hard until a few years ago, now I never work up a sweat which I should. My butt looks like the seat of my electric chair. Do I care, heck no! As long as I have a good hair do and put some make up on to go out, I'm okay with that. There are blouses and coats to hide my butt - I'm an old lady, what do I care!

Bob and I have both lost our youthful physic. It is not a laughing matter but we don't care - well, we do, but it's at the bottom of a long list of important things to worry about or not. I know for a fact if anything happens to him I would definite not be looking for a replacement - no one would do for me what he does. He treats me like a queen. I never thought I'd see this day and I am so very grateful for it and everyday I let him know how much I love him and how much I appreciate him. At our age, we never know if it might be our last. I know we are both in descent health, but there are pains, and God doesn't send a warning message to get ready. He just knocks and swoosh its all over.

When my mom died, I was expecting it, but the last words spoken to her were hurried, not my fault, but she was so ill, and the messages were misconstrued through my dad - it was awful for me. She and I were absolutely best friends, tender, loving, trusting, laughing, close mother daughter friends. I will never forget the last telephone call because it wasn't as I would have wanted it to be. I know the last time I saw her I had flown out to Vegas from our farm in Kentucky and I left her as she was in bed. She was so ill she couldn't see me off as I got into the taxi to the airport. It was the farewell I should remember - it was sweet, with mom being humorous as was her nature, but no, I hold on to the sad remembrances of the telephone call.

I know how those final moments remain as a non erasable ink blot, never ever to be changed, so I try not to let a day go by that my husband doesn't realize how much I appreciate him.

I know you may wonder why I don't talk about my kids in the same way, but I've attempted to reach out to them, but they are still oblivious to life - they can't accept the fact we are old. One son said to me when Bob was going through his cancer radiation treatments and I expressed my worry - he said "everybody dies sometime" - wow! cruel I thought, coming from my son, but that is his mentality. So, I hold on to my husband.

I will say about my adult kids, they are strange, you might blame me but I refuse that blame. I know I could have been firmer, and I was when I thought necessary - today, I would send my son out of the house packing in a heart beat, but there is a child. My conscience wouldn't let me live one day longer if I kick a child out of my large home. We are certainly not wealthy, but we have a roof over our head and food on the table. The children shouldn't be punished for the sins and attitude of the parents. I will say, this son is a devoted father, he is wonderful to his daughter. However nice both of my boys are they do have weird ideas and lifestyles I don't understand.

My mother-in-law didn't like me, but I treated her as I thought God would want me to treat her. To the day of her death, she proclaimed that I was an awful person. No matter that I never cheated on her son and I was devoted, and cared for Brian, raised a grandson and helped a daughter who was mentally disturbed , yes, I was an awful person. I don't regret that I gave her what I thought God wanted - I let God be my guide, just as I do with my children. They will feel the pain of their actions one day. Just as my mother-in-law lost so much being so negative and jealous in her death.

Reaping the rewards God has given us while we are on this earth whatever our life is and being grateful for them is my daily prayer. Through all the turmoil of life, I know I am blessed. And as Bob and I go through each of our days of retirement, lazy, doing the absolutely bare necessities we can laugh at how silly it all can be. Putting off until tomorrow what we should have done today is our favorite saying. And so far it's worked pretty good.