Life Can turn on a Dime

Just one year ago I retired from teaching after 28 years. It has been blissful, fun, and relaxing. That was then and this is now...

Two days ago my daughter and her family (husband, three kids and their Westie) moved in with us for good. What once seemed like a roomy 3-bedroom ranch nows feels a bit like an upscale sardine can with a large great room. Life does that sometimes. Their move in has forced me to be proactive in purging unneeded and unnecessary "stuff". Coincidentally our neighborhood is having a garage sale this upcoming weekend! SCORE! I am now hoping my "trash" becomes a whole lot of people's "treasure"!

Back to our current reality...the deafening (and peace filled) silence is now filled with little voices. Sometimes those voices are music to my ears and sometimes I would rather run my fingernails down my old chalkboard. The kids have adjusted well to their new digs. We decorated their room with an undersea theme. It is adorable. Bunk beds have made the room large enough to play in. Right now Landon and Annie are sharing the room and co-habitating nicely. Brennan is sleeping with his mommy and daddy. Needless to say finishing the basement has now become a reality. So, the purging has become a much-needed event in the Cybul home.

Anyone who wants to come "shopping" at our garage sale, it will be Friday and Saturday, June 4 & 5.

It's Official! I am a GROWNUP now!

I just returned from spending 5 days in Las Vegas with Artie, who was out there for his company's annual conference. How did this trip make me proclaim my status as a grownup? Well, because I did many things that now have catapulted me to that point.

I must backtrack a bit to share with you that I was a VERY sheltered child. Born eight years after my sister, and ten years after my brother, I was the true "baby" of the family. My parents and grandparents spoiled me and kept me in my own little princess castle existence. Because my grandparents lived with us, I never spent a moment with a babysitter. And, ready for this, NEVER spent even an hour alone until I was a freshman in college. Needless to say some of those "firsts" were very intimidating to me.

Fast forward to my marriage to Artie. He has continued the spoiling and sheltering, which I welcomed since I was used to it. Some of the "firsts" in our married life were frightening for me. I remember being terrified to be alone when he worked late or had to go out of town. Since I am pretty much a crybaby you can imagine how many tears were shed as I knocked back some of the experiences that shape us as adults. I became an official adult when I began my teaching career. Having to step into the role of educator and working with parents makes you do that pretty quickly. I handled that fairly well, if I don't say so myself. Was I a grownup yet? NOPE!

OK, so I've set the stage for you to understand why I have officially become a grownup. Are you ready? OK, here is why I became a GROWNUP this past week:

1. I flew alone for the first time ever - Artie was on another flight
2. I found and retrieved my own luggage for the first time
3. I took a tour to see the Grand Canyon all by myself since Artie was tied up in meetings.
4. I did the Skywalk at the West Rim of the Grand Canyon - 4,000 feet above the floor of the canyon
5. I ate alone in restaurants and didn't feel creepy.
6. I walked the streets of Las Vegas alone
7. I rode one of Vegas' monorails alone
8. I gambled alone (no, didn't win a thing)

Add to that I've begun putting my own gas in my car (see, I told you Artie was helping to keep my sheltered)!

So, it's official. I have now conquered some of my "fears" at age 56. I even did one of the things on my Bucket List! I love being in my 50s.

Southern Hospitality

I just returned from an amazing vacation to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Artie and I drove down to Pigeon Forge with our grandkids, and Lindsay and John. What a wonderful place to visit. Dolly Parton has made Dollywood a truly magical place, designed specifically for families. It is pure and wholesome in every way. What struck me most was the amount of restrooms throughout the park! When you are visiting with small children, including a baby, this is notable. The bathrooms were even air conditioned and clean. You never had to look very far for a bathroom. There are even nursing stations, complete with a private bathroom. Dollywood is fun for all and there is something for everyone.

It seems that everywhere I travel to, I want to live there. I guess it's true that the grass is always greener somewhere else...but in Tennessee I found the friendliest people I've ever met. Not just in Dollywood, but everywhere we visited - even the Walgreens employees were friendly. People smile and say hello as if by second nature. Cars stop for you if you are waiting to cross, and then wave to you as you pass by. Eastern Tennesseeans personify southern hospitality. Because we were all treated so graciously, it quickly and easily rubbed off on us all. We became eager to smile more, say hello to strangers, talk to people without any fear of being judged or worse yet, snubbed. Hearing "y'all" became music to my ears. Being called "darlin'" or "honey" by male servers in restaurants felt charming, not offensive in any way. I couldn't help but think of those radical feminists who would cringe at being called either, but for me, it was fun. I liked it!

Another notable thing was the lack of pretentiousness by people. No one was dressed to the nines anywhere we visited. They were dressed for comfort, not fashion savvy. Tee shirts abounded. I didn't even wear mascara! I never leave the house without it, and while in Tennessee I just didn't feel the need for it. I didn't even care that my hair got wet on the water rides and dried looking like some creature from the Black Lagoon. I simply didn't care because I knew no one would be judgmental. What a refreshing change from living here in the Chicago suburbs.

In my middle age I have found a closer connection to nature. I crave the warmth and peace that natural beauty in mountains, trees, and water bring. Trust me, I am not one to commune with nature - camping for me is a Holiday Inn or Motel 6. But now that I am retired, I am feeling the need to surround myself with the natural beauty God has created for us. I found myself wanting to wake up to the views that we woke up to every day in Pigeon Forge. To open your eyes and see the mountains and trees was exhilarating. For those of you who have been to any of our homes, you know how much we love trees. We have tried to imitate those views as best as we can but it just isn't the same. Our view is Al's backyard...not quite the same as the Smoky Mountains. Oh well...