Not all bad dreams are nightmares. I have dreams which are bad because they’re too close to reality for psychic comfort.
First up in last night’s doubleheader, I dreamed I urgently needed a shower. Okay, fine, soon as I get up, I promised my unconscious. Sheesh. It’s not that bad … is it?
The next round of REM sleep informed me I couldn’t fit into my jeans. That got me so upset I vowed if it turned out to be true, I would end it all by jumping head first into the bathtub off my shower chair. If that didn’t work, I’d have to get a new pair of jeans.
I tried waking up, then going back to sleep. Maybe it would shake off the dreams … but it didn’t work.
Photo: Garry Armstrong
Leaving me feeling grubby with unbearably tight blue jeans. Was worse yet to come?
I decided not to lie around waiting for an answer I might not like. Dragging my reluctant body from the comfortable bed, I went straight for the dresser and pulled out my jeans. Shucking my nightgown, I stepped into them and discovered — oh joy! — they fit perfectly.
I would have done a victory dance, but I first needed to give cookies to starving puppies, start the coffee, and hit the shower. Today, I’m going to wear those jeans until I remember if I’m just going to sit around the house, I might as well go for something loose and stretchy.
Photo: Garry Armstrong
Vanity and fashion have lost their power over me. Instead, it’s easy-to-launder, resistant to dog hair, and comfortable. Every time. I still think about putting on make-up, just to prove I can make myself look nice if I try … can’t think of a reason. Garry genuinely doesn’t care. Unless someone is taking pictures and I don’t have a camera in front of it, it seems pointless and anyway, I’d only have to wash it off later.
Retirement has ruined me. Yet somehow, I love it. Retirement is good that way.
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Categories: Anecdote, Humor, Morning, Photography
Relaxed and comfortable — the only way to go!
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This has been a monumentally rough couple of days, but I think it will work out okay. Eventually.
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I’ve had a couple of worries too — nothing life-threatening, but concerning worries nonetheless! Life does that sometimes, and it’s no fun. I hope yours all works out well, and you stop those nightmares! And, btw, my best to Garry with the cochlear implant!
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It has been a financially very rough period and isn’t getting any better. Prices are up, social security is not. It’s not going to get better, either.
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🙂 You’re so totally up my street 🙂
Love your floating dresses – they are the best….
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And, as dresses, go, really cheap. They are the lightest things I own for summer days.
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I am going to try that out in a few months. Retirement, that is.
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It came early for both Garry and I, too. Life gets in the way of work.
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Rich, I predict you’ll like it. You’ll embrace it.
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I won’t embrace the loss of income but it has to be. I was going to work another year, but will just have to make it past my birthday in July. Maybe I’ll have time to come to Boston to see the Red Sox play the White Sox or Cubs.
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Sometimes, life just won’t wait until you catch up. I worked as long as I could, but at some point, I was just too sick and in too much pain.
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The finish line sustains me. It is getting too hard now after the second surgery.
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Rich, we don’t embrace the loss of income. Goes/comes with the territory. “Please Come To Boston”
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I am just a rambling boy. I will try to make it.
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We will be here. Still trying to figure out how to afford to have the chimney fixed.
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I spent years in Corporate America wearing shoes that hurt my feet and clothes that were not comfortable. I retired from all that. But, I had a bad dream today while I was awake when I looked down, and realized one of my favorite pairs of jeans had some kind of mark on them. I have to go on line and see if I can order an exact match because once I find a style that works, I usually buy a couple of pairs.
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I think getting the same jeans is like getting that same color eye shadow you’ve always loved. They don’t make them quite like they used to. they are tighter in the wrong places, looser in the wrong places. I once bought two supposedly identical pairs of jeans — one light denim, the other dark.
They didn’t fit the same way. One pair was MUCH too tight. No two things are exactly the same, even when they are supposed to be. Not even human twins 🙂
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Thrilled you made me a convert to yoga pants. Many thanks, mi amor.
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I am in between retirement and not: since my health got very bad ten or so years back when I got electrocuted, and my last fulltime boss passed on in 2012, I work for myself, but make my own schedule, so can have some days packed with clients, and some with not a one, and that is fine. It’d be great if I got more serious about finishing this book I am writing about tarot–
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I was in my early 50s when my health went down hill. It was like dominoes going down. I think I’m actually in better shape NOW than I was 20 years ago. Older and more tired, but I don’t think I’m dying at the moment.
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It amazes me that things in life are really NOT like I expected them to be when I was young and thought myself very insightful and all–
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We were inciteful — but not omniscient.
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It’s still nice to have an occasion to dress up once in awhile.
Leslie
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Leslie, that’s true. After “dressing up” for a friend’s Memorial Service recently, I discovered I need to make a run to thre dry cleaners. Yikes.
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Yes you do have to keep those clothes pristine…..
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I was like you describe vis a vis ‘fashion’ BEFORE I became disabled. “Retirement” or so I’m told is years off, I’m still “too young to retire.” But loose fitting, casual, and ready to wear (no annoying ironing or cleaning) has always been my preference in clothing. Of course one can’t go to an office that has a dress code looking like that, but I celebrated the acceptance of casual Fridays in the days before I was ‘retired’. These days? If it fits and is reasonably clean, it’s in. T-shirts and jeans are my normal attire. No shoes any more, unless I have to go somewhere. Make up? What’s this make up you speak of? I lost the tolerance (I literally cannot wear eye makeup any more) for that stuff at the time of my ‘retirement’ too, and only wear it if there’s some occasion that’s very very special. Roseacea will cure a person of using makeup. I think I’d have to buy some if I wanted to use it, because all the stuff I had is dried up or out of date. Frankly I wouldn’t go back to my life before ‘retirement’. It’s lovely being able to be oneself, isn’t it?
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I have the theory that once you go elastic, you can’t go back. Everything feels too tight. Garry discovered elastic and he gets quite alarmed at the idea that he might (gasp) need to wear a belt! And this is a man who thought a tee shirt not tucked into your jeans was way too casual. These days, it’s basically pajama bottoms and any top that resists dog hair.
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I’ve embraced the change into relaxed casual. It’s wonderful.
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I find this to be so true, and yes I put on my makeup just because I want to see if I still can look nice, clothing has to be comfortable, even blue jeans, I love the boyfriend styles, stretchy and loose anyway. Nothing better than those genie bras, no wires, and slip on sneakers, and let us not forget those active wear pants, like a legging, but a bit more loose and flare legs. T- shirts, V neck T-shirts, long sleeve, short, 3/4 length…that’s all I need to feel comfy, if we need to dress it up, put on some makeup, a little jewelry (earrings) and a scarf, with maybe a jacket, or lite cardigan…so many of those to choose from, and if it’s a bad hair day, or you didn’t need to wash (it is not a must every day) a nice hat, Fedora, baseball cap, even a fancy hairband, I am all set, I look forward to retirement, can’t wait until I change from nursing scrubs and sneakers to sport knit pants and T-shirts, messy hair and no makeup. This will be a big change from my current fashion and beauty habits, such a relief because there is more time to do less, run out to shop, and then do some cooking, and watch TV, read, relax with dog and hubby. Life is good, and so is bare faced and casual.
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I keep being surprised at how BUSY retirement can be. You think you are going to have so much time, but somehow, you don’t. You have more time than you did when you were working, but not nearly as much time as you expected. But you DO get to be comfortable. And you don’t have to set the alarm for five in the morning, either.
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I’d put comfort over fashion any day but what were you eating last night to give you such uncomfortable dreams?
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I think I worry in my sleep!
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Tas, we had chili, as I recall. We didn’t require any calls to the bomb squad last night.
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I didn’t get as far as retirement, but I’m already there 😉
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I think I worry while I sleep. This past week has been full of anxiety and the dreams reflect it.
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I can imagine. I’ve had some strange ones when the worrying takes over.
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I always think I’m not worrying, but my dreams assure me I’m lying to myself.
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I can relate to that too.
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There are some days in retirement when I still have to tell myself that I don’t have to, only do it if you want to
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Me too. A lifetime of work sticks with you, even years later.
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I’m wearing one of the new pair of Yoga Pants you got me. Yes, I’ve become a convert. They are so darn comfortable. You’ve set me free! Gracias, Mi Amor.
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