As for you, Carl, losing a close acquaintance/friend, as I tell myself when I hear of High School classmates or their spouses passing- “It’s the the price of living this long.” Never thought I’d make 40, let alone 50, now going on 60… I look at my Mother who has no one left in her immediate family and is beginning a decline in health and realize I’m seeing my future (or my wife’s, as it’s likely I’ll go before her just as my father departed first). Dying is bad for those left behind, I remind myself- and is lots better for those who’ve passed as even if there’s no heaven, at least they’re not suffering here anymore. No fear of death- it’s that nasty prelim that’s a bitch.

Condolences, Carl.

I think you made the right decision and I think it’s a good thing for the benefit of all of us who have gotten to know you when otherwise we might not have.

That villa in Tuscany would sure have been swell right about now though…

Scoats, are you suggesting I should live near a beach just to fit in with my demographic? That’s profiling, man.

Carl, sorry to hear about your friend, of course. Life sucks a lot of the time. But about that “retiring” thing? That’s what I gave up, to answer your question. And good thing too, because I can’t imagine what the hell I’d do if I didn’t have something to do. Like holidays and weekends, retirement strikes me like it would be just another annoying glitch in my schedule.

I also wouldn’t want to be 65 years old and find my 401K has dropped 50%. Though I’m in my 40s and have seen my IRA drop that much.

I sometimes think of how much more I’d be making if I still worked for a Fortune 500 corporation. I really doubt the additional money would make up for the misery of having to work there. Hopefully most days you feel that way too.

It should also be noted many poor people live near beaches. That option isn’t ruled out for anyone.

She’s gonna die. Well, we are all gonna die, but she has a calendar it looks like. Prognosis, 6-12 months. And it is going to be, according to the GF, who is a hospice nurse and knows this shit, a tough and ugly departure. I hated hearing this tonight and this is one of those phone calls you always remember getting, no matter how long you live.

NONE of us know how long we have or when our ticket is going to be punched, as a lot of us on my old job used to put it. But, enjoying the time that you have, whether you have lots of money or not, is what makes it all worthwhile.

I retired, as you also know, at the end of march. I may have retired too soon, as some might say, as far as having “enough” money coming in. But what is enough and there are always way to make more. But enjoying the day, each goddamn day, well, that is the most important thing. That, and making a difference now and then.

Got a lot on my mind tonight. In many ways, I love all my friends. You, Thom, Cheryl… people you do not and likely will never know. But it hurts when I lose one or know I am going to lose one. Yet at the same time, I always know, deep in my mind, that once again, I escaped the grim reaper. But it is a reminder that my time, whenever it is, is coming.

Enjoy your life. Each day. You, me, all of use need to remember that. It’s damn important. Make a difference if you can, too.

Oh yeah, and one more thing. I got told this today. It’s her birthday. She likely will not see another.