Free at last

Paul is about to retire after almost 40 years in public service, 20 of those on the federal bench. He has served with intelligence, decency and fairness. Wow are we proud of him.

So how does he feel about retiring? He's over the moon. Like a kid on Christmas Eve. He literally started the countdown more than a year ago.

Funny how we used to feel bad for people retiring. "Those poor old people." Now it's "Free at last."

Naturally there are occasional annoyances connected to retiring. Somewhere out in the Net Universe commercial organisms also have received word of Paul's retirement. Our mailbox and his email box get daily pitches for insurance, financial management, reverse mortgage, etc. He tries not to think about the gross violation of privacy. There really is no such thing as privacy anymore.

Last week, however, he got a proposition that seems to violate both privacy and good taste: a deal on pre-paid CREMATION!! Really?

This morning Paul made a joke about it. Of course he did. It will take more than the suggestion of his own death to dampen the prospect of not having to work anymore. Of not having to answer to an early morning alarm or to a superior. Ever again.

After 40 long years plus the years he worked as a teen and young adult before he became a professional, he has earned the right to sit back and breathe free.