Inquiring Minds Want to Know

I get the question at least once a week, “So, what’s he doing now? How’s he filling his time?”

I feel as if I should be answering in broad technicolor strokes — “Well, he went white water rafting yesterday and tomorrow he and a buddy are heading out to Key West to go fishing.”

But he neither rafts nor fishes. He’s never expressed the desire to learn how to [blank]. And despite knowing retirement was in the offing, he made no preparations, set no goals, had no plans to fill the formless void of the coming days. Instead of technicolor answers I respond in 8 millimeter black and white. “He goes to the gym. He spends a lot of time at the library. He’s taking a religion class once a week.” That last is something he has dearly wanted to do. I am glad he finally can.

It’s his life after all; the time is his to do as he pleases. And it’s only been three months.
After thirty-plus years he’s surely entitled to take life as slow as he wants. He says he’s happy. I’ve heard him tell people more than once, “I don’t know where the time goes but before I know it the day is gone.”

But he is young. A newly-minted sixty-something. How will I answer the curious next year? And the year after that? He doesn’t seem to be the least concerned. So why am I?

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