Follow Your Heart

A few weeks before my 62nd birthday, Weldon and I were in the milk barn (shocking, I know!) and we started tossing around words like sabbatical, R & R, leave of absence. Weldon said, "Vacation!" and I countered with "Retirement!" I then went on to say that perhaps I would retire on my birthday. Weldon grunted.

We tiptoed around the subject in the following days, neither of us saying anything very definite, neither of us being bold in our "yea" or "nay" thoughts. I don't know about Weldon, but I was certainly giving it some serious consideration. I went so far as to reassure him that I would only be retiring from COWS - not from cooking, cleaning, laundry, kitties, my part-time job, or any of the other things that life throws my way. Weldon humphed.

Sunday, May 12 (my birthday), I was finishing my morning Bible reading when Weldon called, "I'm heading out to chores." I responded with my usual, "I'll be there shortly." And, I was! We hadn't been milking very long when he said, "What are you doing down here? I thought you were going to retire." I explained that I didn't see how I could retire right now, knowing that the busiest time of the year was almost upon us.

Ten days later, after finishing morning chores, I announced that I just couldn't "do this" anymore. Weldon said he knew it was coming because I was humming, "Take This Job and Shove It." Not true, but he has gotten many a laugh with that line.

I have helped with the milking a few times since my retirement took effect, and when it's time for planting and harvesting, I'll try to be a good and cheerful farm assist once again.

Despite what Weldon says, I have not become a lady of leisure!

I thought I'd be feeling really guilty, but sometimes you just have to go with your heart (or your gut?) knowing it's the right decision. I am at peace. I am retired from cows!