Posted 2-18-20
Today’s post is #401 since March of last year. 🙂 Our little community has blossomed into a little over 6,000 of my closest friends and family and I thank you. 🙂
Today I just wanted to drop a bit of a sad bomb. Feel free to go back and read the archives instead of this one if you like. It is never my intent to write about sad subjects for the sake of sadness or to generate emotion to beg for sympathy or post likes or shares or subscriptions, but it is just a reflection of my current mood. Thank you for hearing me out. 🙂
A 401k is the most common financial instrument in America to set back funds to ultimately retire. It is uniquely tax deferred and helps save in many unique ways. The bottom line of this savings tool is that it is designed to move you in the right direction to stop working someday. It is a means to an…uhhh…err…your end.
That brings me to our tie-in today. In order to retired well you need money to live on until you pass away and you need health to make living worthwhile. Mom and my step-dad did their best to be able to accomplish the money piece and, just when it was time to really start living, her health declined into the hospice-stage dementia she now endures. She knew this day was coming and could have retired a decade ago, but chose to keep working, much to the dismay of us, the Applegate kids. We badgered and badgered them to travel, to camp, to fish, and to enjoy life while all was well. They chose, instead, to keep working and even work harder. I am not judging them or wanting to be hurtful even a little. I guess I just want to encourage you to think through this decision carefully as you enter the 3rd and 4th quarters of a century old (or even before). They thought it through and that was their choice. I guess this is something of a generational difference, but I would have loved to have more time with mom before she got this bad. I could not possibly care less about any sort of inheritance other than the inheritance of joy and experience. But, such is life. 🙁
I am thankful for retirement plans and for the fact that many get to stop working and serve/volunteer/help their grandkids. My wife had a wonderful relationship with her retired grandparents that she will never forget. Looking at my life in snapshot form right now, I will likely work until I die and will likely call in sick that day so I don’t miss it, but I will phase my hours back as time goes on. Work is exciting and rewarding to me where I am not sold alternatives will give me that same joy. However, if/when I get dementia (I have a strong family gene), will I still feel the same? We shall see…
Update: Mom was pretty upbeat yesterday. She had a bit of a cough, but it was probably just dryness from the climate where she is. Pray, if you would, for my FB friend Mrs. C, whose husband, who she dutifully cares for day and night, has had a sudden flurry of physical and dementia-related hardship (even more than normal). Pray for peace and comfort for both of them in these possibly final days.
Weight Watchers (WW) update: lost 2.6 more for a total of just under 20 lbs since 1/20. Thank you for the encouragement!
Last, but not least, a reminder that our Alzheimer’s caregiver support group meeting is tonight (6:00-7:30pm) at 1735 S Fort Ave, Springfield, Mo. If you need to come late, no worries…call me at 417-955-2513 and I will meet you at the door. The goal is to help as many as possible as we all fight to #EndALZ .
Beautifully said and right on par with my thinking lately. I’m reading John eldridges….get your life back….and it is really hopefully convicting.
Thanks! 🙂 Cool on the book, too. I will look into that one for my Audible collection. 🙂