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This is the first guest post on this site and very appropriately, it is by my mum Anne.
Mothers are often the greatest inspiration in their daughter’s life. My mum is no different except that she inspires me on so many levels above and beyond being a very special parent: as a wife, daughter, sister, teacher and friend.
Calm in all things, generous to everyone and perfectly content in her skin, each day I become more aware of how lucky my sisters and I were to be gifted with such a mum.
Having also been a positive influence in the lives of countless school children, my mum retired from primary teaching earlier this year.
She is finding her feet in this world beyond serving others and as she looks to the horizon (the picture above is an artist’s impression of the view from our family home), she shares these words with us….
Simone always says that when one door closes, another opens.
It was very difficult at first, but as I look back over the first three months of retirement I am able to examine my daily round and find golden moments embedded in the days gone by.
Highlights have included:
- Watching two baby magpies fledge from their nest in the pine tree on the median strip in front of our home. Their plaintive cries have led to us rescuing one from our pool, watching them waddle onto the road following the adult birds and exulting in their new found flying skills;
- Knitting a T-shirt for my six-year-old grandson’s stuffed monkey. He thinks sewing a few stitches is knitting, so I’ve been able to avoid digging out my knitting needles;
- Driving my car towards a perfectly formed rainbow which traveled in front of me all of the way into the city;
- Walking the four kilometers’ round trip with my husband, who is recovering from a knee replacement; walking down to the beach, along the boardwalk and back takes us about forty minutes;
- A snake slithered out of the sand dunes towards our house until, deterred by dive bombing wattle birds, he headed back as quickly as he came;
- My irascible, aged mother has been in and out of hospital and the wonderful nursing staff continue to willingly care for her, and
- Finally, for several nights in a row, no matter how late the hour I went to the sink by the window overlooking the trees, a bird would sing to me. I experimented to see if he thought the light was the morning sun, but it did not influence his song if it was already off or on. I had an image of my window being his goldfish bowl and I the pet swimming within.
He has gone away lately, but for a few nights he brought cheerfulness to my life.
I look forward to the next new visitor to my window.
As we move inexorably towards another Christmas period with all of the implications of family and togetherness, I send you greetings.
Anne Martin
Tags: Change, family, nature, Opportunity, retirement
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Oh Anne! This is lovely. Your recount is so vivid I can see, hear, and feel what you are saying. Your golden moments are truly golden nuggets to be cherished by you, but now also by us. Thank you for sharing your beautiful experiences and insight.
Like Simone, I am the daughter of a retired school teacher. Simone and her sisters are very blessed to have you, and now, we are blessed as well.
Your words brought a smile to my lips..”knitting a T-shirt”. Very cute. And the way you told the story of the bird singing at your kitchen window no matter what the hour..how unusual! I love the image of him at the window seeing you as his goldfish swimming within.
I look forward to seeing you here again!
May your Holidays be Blessed, Anne.
Simone ~ Thank you so very much for sharing your mum with us.
Hi Robin,
Thanks so much for welcoming mum to our shared world with your usual warmth and blessings :)
S.
Thank you for your kind words. Learning to blog is another new skill I am trying to master. I cannot express my joy at reading your response.
From my window this morning I watched a young man doing a stand up on a powerful motor bike as he roared down the road.
I am off to follow the link to your website. Please send my regards to your retired schoolteacher mother.
Yours sincerely
Anne
what a wonderful picture you have painted Anne….
and Simone is obviously very proud of you …..
her introduction is lovely….. (thanks Simone)
your writing is rich and filled with those snippets of life that put the reader right next to you…I too loved the “knitting” gem and your insights …it sounds as if you have all the time in the world….how wonderful…. :)
I am a teacher too …(on leave at present) and I want to wish you a very warm welcome to the world of blogging…
regards Kim
Thank you, Laketrees: I wonder what you see from your window, as you sit silently contmeplating life. Maybe a lake and some trees?
All the best.
Hello Anne..how lovely to meet you. :)
Simone sounds so proud to be your daughter as I am sure you are just as proud to be her Mum..it is so lovely to be a witness to this beautiful bond that you share.
I love that everything you wrote of were such simple pleasures, the type that most people miss on their frantic daily journey.
I look forward to reading more from both you and your talented daughter :)
MGL x
Hello MGL
The sun has just gone down, my bird is singing, and the MGL has been kind enough to write to me.
Proud I am, of my girl, of all my three girls; it is lovely to meet their friends at home and in cyberspace.
Regards
Anne
Congratulations Anne on your retirement. I have always believed that children help us see things differently. You are able to enjoy the “little” things in life that some of us aren’t able to see. I write this early as I prepare for another day with 20 6 year olds. Maybe someday soon I will be able to stop and look out my window.
So nice to meet you, Chic Girl. Windows can be exhilirating. I would love to hear about what you see when you find the time.
Enjoy your 6 year olds. I still miss the rigour.
Regards
Anne
Hello Anne, enjoyed reading your blog and the many comments it has produced. Please keep writing – I will keep reading!!
I am sharing your experience of early days in retirement – whatever that word means?? For me it has meant the joy of waking in the morning and not having to rush to work; coffee on the verandah just enjoying the view; time to smell the roses and rub the lavender as I hang out the washing; re-learning the art of slow-cooking using herbs I am nurturing and with rich aromas in my kitchen; time to read and listen to music;time to look at the photo albums and time to visit my family and friends; time to be with my children and their children; time to be at the birth of my latest grandsons and time to consider the meaning of life.
From MY window I can see blue Brindabella mountains that in winter are covered in snow but today have a smoky haze that foretells of heat and possible rain. I can see Black Mountain with is giant Telstra Tower and Mount Stromlo where Australians are discovering other worlds in outer space – while I drink my coffee! Closer to home there are green eucalypt trees slowly waking to the day and home to many noisy birds already breakfasting there – below them my agapanthus are budding.
I am really looking forward to having some time to look out your window and reflect on these experiences. See you soon.
God Bless,
Gemma
Hi Gem
Thank you for sharing the vista from your window. I can visualize it so well. Can I hazard a guess that your window is looking North in Canberra? Not really sure of the orientation. Will have to revisit to double check.
Love to all the babies.
Anne
A very experienced bushwalker tells me the bird who sings to me may be a willy wagtail, as there is anecdotal evidence that they become very vocal and forceful after dark.
Thank you for the input, I shall certainly follow this as a line of investigation.
Regards
Anne
[...] presents An Inspired Retirement on Sunset Boulevard posted at Outfit [...]
Thank you for sharing, Anne. Many continued blessings to you in your retirement!
CG
Dear CG
It was kind of you to take the time to read my blog. Thank you for your blessings.
Regards
Anne
Just showed your site to your Dad. He thinks (knows) you are very clever.
M and D
[...] presents An Inspired Retirement on Sunset Boulevard posted at Outfit [...]