Jealous Over The Thought Of Retirement

The Commuter

By Cynna Woo

Seven A.M. and it’s nice and bright for my return trip to New Jersey. Last week at this time, it was dark and gloomy. The trees are more yellow than green and I feel upbeat about the day and the week ahead. Thank goodness for daylight savings.

I’m thinking about my sis-in-law, home on her first day of retirement at the young age of 59. She is the first in my age group to retire. It was just last month when her company offered incentives; she felt no need to retire then, I guess they made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Since I started my professional career later in life, I can’t imagine the thought of “retirement”. Will I be like my mother who has also just retired, at the age of 78? I want to follow the progress of these two women, whom I love dearly. Let’s see how my feelings about retirement alter as my 50’s roll along.

I suppose some of the Phillies retire at the age of 30 or 40. How do they feel? Most of them go on to new careers like sports announcers or managers, possibly car dealership spokesmen or coaches, like the Yankees coach. A few months back I was caught up in the battle of the Phillies and the Yankees World Series. For the first time I tuned the radio to sports talk for a few minutes. The radio discussed the pitching and hitting, not the important things like the beautiful shade of A-rod’s skin or the way Cliff Lee stands just before he winds up. Quel homme (what a man)! As long as I turn my head just before the spitting close up, I love baseball.

Almost there now, a quick trip, time to stop thinking about baseball and retirement and get ready to advise those students concerning their spring schedule. I can hear a chorus of “there’s nothing left to take,” and this is only the first week of registration.

Suddenly I was distracted by the Grinch that stole Christmas on the front lawn of lonely little bungalow on Route 30. I can’t believe it is Christmas time again.

The Commuter is a column by Cynna Woo. She has been commuting between South Jersey and the Philadelphia suburbs for the last four years. When she first landed her great job as an academic advisor in N.J. she did not mind the drive. But, driving 65 miles one way grew old very fast. She shortened the drive time by buying a condo in Smithville, NJ. She now lives like a single person during the week and commutes to her “big house” and husband of 35 years, on the weekends. She would like to share her commuter musings, while driving. She will actually write them down when she gets home, because she hasn’t perfected writing while driving quite yet. Cynna enjoys reviewing movies, show tunes, listening to Howard Stern, speaking in french, collecting mermaids, hiking, and spending quality time with her amazing family.