Friday, June 02, 2006

The Retirement Rule, Or; The story of Uncle Bill

The last two years before his death, Bill hung on at 3M rather than retire. He was the director of transportation--directed all the trucking nationwide. He had a stroke. He got demoted. The folks at work turned mean. There were the usual cruelties. And the unusual cruelties.--like having to train the folks that will replace you. Through it all, he was patient. Stoic.

He had thought of retirement enough. Even had ordered a Surburban, fully loaded. A little over list price. With the full trailer package.

About a month before he died, he got to drive it to Chicago to see his daughter, who was a physical therapist.

It was his last trip. He never did pull the trailer.

He died never having realized his dream, as so many people do----he had not made a practice of travelling while he was young....

So--the rule---

Travel early and often. Get in the habit.