Retirement: Is that all there is?
by Cliff Rothband
(Coconut Creek Fl)
Health forced retirement 10 years ago. I also found out that since I was a Vietnam Veteran i was eligible for funds besides Medicare. It took a few years to get and some annoyance but the money makes it better than physical labor which is behind me. If you are a Veteran, try it. It does take time and effort.
I did most of my bucket list as i was told often enough by doctors to get my affairs in order, you might die tomorrow. Well I am still here thanks to the VA Doctors who could care less if you got enough insurance to pay them.
An interesting side, maybe a miracle. We live in south Florida and went to Texas to meet a still alive half brother of my deceased father. I cherished meeting someone from that side of the family, I grew up without any. An enlightenment to say the least.
We visited the Alamo and inside my wife and I get cell phone texts that there was unusual activity within our accounts. Shucks we been on the road for weeks using our credit cards. What is up? We go into a Wells Fargo bank in San Antonio's Mexican district, use there computer and where did all this money come from?
Our mail was sitting home and no one was checking it out, it was like winning the Lotto. Weeks later we found out the VA benefits finally went through and I was paid as 100% disabled Vet for the rest of my life. A pension of sorts.
Well deserved for some of the hardest times of my wife and I's early first 2 years of a 51 year married life. The military is a million dollar experience not worth 2 bucks, as told to me by a college instructor, one pure Professional man.
Now ten years later, my thought was to see America first. Visit every military installation, every museum, the White House and Congress. On the cheap! Every beach we could find.
Little did we realize that driving up the East Coast we were heading East, not North as Triple A maps indicated. Food is different in every city and state. Words have different meanings. Toilets aren't always available. In Kennebunkport Maine, we filled up for $75 and asked where the rest rooms were? The Cashier asked didn't we know where bears go? In the woods. Fools are everywhere it seems, but there are some real good souls out there.
One time we stopped to check out an attraction, Parked in a handicapped space. The price was beyond what we wanted to spend. When we went back to the car, someone gave us 2 tickets , no charge, Miracles are where we least expected.
Now, so much happened after the new years, possible cancers, unexpected life stuations, good and bad. A fool trying to steal our money. Be it known that you never have to pay anyone, compromise is the rule of order.
Still 2 old mothers in nursing homes or hospice.
Finding out what they thought had value is worthless as cash. Remember that all we can take with us are memories, so they better be good.
My problem now, anxieties and depression, lonely and isolated feelings inside . Panic attacks.
Oh how I want to be happy, I want friends, I want to have a conversation about things other than blood and guts. I am so lucky and feel empty and scared inside.
So things never worked out as expected. BUT, I am 72 years on this earth.
