Cori, good grief, girl, you really HIT IT. Curmudgeon here, already in the wonderful world of retirement...but I do not do a lot of stuff. I did not plan worth a dang, as I did not expect to survive to Elder age. All those hats...indeed, blasted heavy. I think the whole recycling thing is overdone...but I do it to some degree. Self checkouts, labor-heavy devices, more pressure on all of us for political correctness... GAH! Double GAH! I prefer my curmudgeon-hood...and clinging to the God Who loves me (dunno why...). Keep going, dear Cori, you've got it! I love your writing!!!!! Sometimes deep and despairing...but paired with enough laughter to keep us returning. Truth! Wendy
Thank you, Cori! I am kind of stunned to hear your reply, as I seldom think I am positive...more of a warning/exhorting kind of girl...but I am glad you received my complimentary comment, as you earned it! You write very well, very emotional and visceral and yet useful, not just meandering. Thanks for feeding my spirit, which is still too much sorrowful....but Papa God is a good teacher...and He keeps on...teaching me. Go figure! Keep on, dear Cori!
A wonderful description of what was then it isn’t now.
Thinking about it though, what you have is what can be referred to as the deterioration of the service industry. A lot of your examples are showing the things that used to be done for you that now you do yourself. Customer service as well as service in general has deteriorated to the point you’re probably better off doing that stuff for yourself. Self serve, self check out, bag your own groceries, order on line (why should or would I tip for placing my own order?), carry your own bags, pump your own gas…the list goes on and on. Then, surprisingly we wonder why the current generation is lazy and inept when it comes to job performance.
Agreed. I added the service decline, when I realized that’s a lot of it, while writing this post. Great points and thank you for jumping into the conversation.
40 days till you get to start living the next 40 years!! WOOHOO! You won’t have to listen to any more unimaginative co-workers tell you that they are just going to keep on working because they wouldn’t know what to do all day long if they retired. I’m retired 13 years now and can’t keep up with everything I need to do, but the best part is that I don’t give a shit. Procrastination is a skill to be polished in retirement. It’s tuff to be bored when you’re not doing so much stuff you otta be doing. Pick the fun stuff first
Thank you for engaging. They say “have a plan when you retire”. In some respects I get that but, at least initially, I’m looking forward to no plans or heavy commitments
Funny you mention that. I’ve been sleeping like it’s my job this winter. I’ve unplugged from most of the news and been soaking up rays every chance I get in my glam pod Betty. But the sleep nodding off 8:45 ish every night and sleeping 7-9 hours without waking. I thank God for this blessing. It’s amazing.
Here in WA state people recycle but not everyone knows that if you don’t clean out those cans and plastic they go into the garbage. And we pay for our garbage service!
When I was a kid a lot of our produce was from the garden or the local "truck farms". Which meant you could only get it in season unless you canned it. Everyone had a "root cellar" for food storage which doubled as a storm shelter. We raised our own beef and treated all of our animals like pets. I started working on the farms and chicken houses when I was old enough to ride a bike to work, plus all of my own chores.
Sounds similar to my upbringing except imminent domain took my pap’s farm and things got a little rougher in the food arena. We all had chores and started jobs (newspaper route) at 5-7 years old. Then it was Avon and then summer jobs. I think many younger generations think boomers and gen x ers are “on welfare” when we finally retire. But lots of us have worked for 50 years or more by the time we decide to slow down. I really love hearing from readers so thank you for sharing. 😀
I could write a long comment about every point you made here. Back in the 60s we had helms bakery here in California instead of Sunbeam. And we also had milk delivery. And a few others I can’t remember. Remember the Fuller Brush man? He used to deliver cleaning supplies for the home.
My husband had the same issue with his glasses. He receives free minimal medical because he is a native American. So he had his eyes examined at the reservation health center and then he went to Walmart or someplace to get them filled and they gave him the wrong prescription. But they lied to him and said they gave him the exact prescription. He ended up having to go to a regular optometrist and pay for an exam and purchase the glasses at the facility so not to make a mistake on his next order.
I could go on and on. Fortunately for us we have a decent allopathic Doctor Who owns her own office. I have known their family for years and I babysit their little girls several nights a week. So they are part of our family. I’m very fortunate in that regard.
That whole shopping bag policy began here in California about four or five years ago. I shop at a really good independent grocery store, which we are very fortunate to still have in business in our small town and they give me free bags. At least when I notice on my receipt they never charge me. But most stores do not provide free bags. When you purchase a lot of groceries, you also end up purchasing a lot of bags and less you bring your own bags with you. But then how are you going to pack your own bags? Because they aren’t allowed to touch your dirty bags. At most door there’s nowhere for you to move your groceries to a table to pack them while the next person is in line. So when I bring about 10 bags with me and start packing my groceries I get the evil eye from the cashier and the customers in line. But honestly, if everyone brought their own bags and packed them up at the register they would probably stop that stupid bag policy.
My understanding is very little of anything is recycled. Not because people put everything in the trash, but they are lying to us about their massive recycling businesses. It’s just not happening from what I’ve learned.
Like they told us during COVID-19, we are all in this together. They are so right.
Thank you for sharing Charlotte! I felt a bit whiny while writing the post but it was intended to point out that many someones are no longer employed because we do all these things ourselves. They aren’t onerous but they cost our communities in other ways. The primary driver seems to be corporate greed. And we can’t very well call it ‘corporate’ when anyone with an investment account or pension or 401k benefits from it through their stock values. It’s a tough problem to solve.
I’ve been retired for 15 years and I wear most of those same hats. Occasionally, though, I do tip myself!
Cori, good grief, girl, you really HIT IT. Curmudgeon here, already in the wonderful world of retirement...but I do not do a lot of stuff. I did not plan worth a dang, as I did not expect to survive to Elder age. All those hats...indeed, blasted heavy. I think the whole recycling thing is overdone...but I do it to some degree. Self checkouts, labor-heavy devices, more pressure on all of us for political correctness... GAH! Double GAH! I prefer my curmudgeon-hood...and clinging to the God Who loves me (dunno why...). Keep going, dear Cori, you've got it! I love your writing!!!!! Sometimes deep and despairing...but paired with enough laughter to keep us returning. Truth! Wendy
Thanks Wendy. May I say your words are full of positive energy you must be having a glorious weekend. ❤️
Thank you, Cori! I am kind of stunned to hear your reply, as I seldom think I am positive...more of a warning/exhorting kind of girl...but I am glad you received my complimentary comment, as you earned it! You write very well, very emotional and visceral and yet useful, not just meandering. Thanks for feeding my spirit, which is still too much sorrowful....but Papa God is a good teacher...and He keeps on...teaching me. Go figure! Keep on, dear Cori!
A wonderful description of what was then it isn’t now.
Thinking about it though, what you have is what can be referred to as the deterioration of the service industry. A lot of your examples are showing the things that used to be done for you that now you do yourself. Customer service as well as service in general has deteriorated to the point you’re probably better off doing that stuff for yourself. Self serve, self check out, bag your own groceries, order on line (why should or would I tip for placing my own order?), carry your own bags, pump your own gas…the list goes on and on. Then, surprisingly we wonder why the current generation is lazy and inept when it comes to job performance.
Agreed. I added the service decline, when I realized that’s a lot of it, while writing this post. Great points and thank you for jumping into the conversation.
40 days till you get to start living the next 40 years!! WOOHOO! You won’t have to listen to any more unimaginative co-workers tell you that they are just going to keep on working because they wouldn’t know what to do all day long if they retired. I’m retired 13 years now and can’t keep up with everything I need to do, but the best part is that I don’t give a shit. Procrastination is a skill to be polished in retirement. It’s tuff to be bored when you’re not doing so much stuff you otta be doing. Pick the fun stuff first
Thank you for engaging. They say “have a plan when you retire”. In some respects I get that but, at least initially, I’m looking forward to no plans or heavy commitments
I recommend sleep...lots of it...
Funny you mention that. I’ve been sleeping like it’s my job this winter. I’ve unplugged from most of the news and been soaking up rays every chance I get in my glam pod Betty. But the sleep nodding off 8:45 ish every night and sleeping 7-9 hours without waking. I thank God for this blessing. It’s amazing.
Amen, sis! Congrats on retirement.
Here in WA state people recycle but not everyone knows that if you don’t clean out those cans and plastic they go into the garbage. And we pay for our garbage service!
I know. Recycling is a whole thing. My youngest manages it for our household lol
When I was a kid a lot of our produce was from the garden or the local "truck farms". Which meant you could only get it in season unless you canned it. Everyone had a "root cellar" for food storage which doubled as a storm shelter. We raised our own beef and treated all of our animals like pets. I started working on the farms and chicken houses when I was old enough to ride a bike to work, plus all of my own chores.
Sounds similar to my upbringing except imminent domain took my pap’s farm and things got a little rougher in the food arena. We all had chores and started jobs (newspaper route) at 5-7 years old. Then it was Avon and then summer jobs. I think many younger generations think boomers and gen x ers are “on welfare” when we finally retire. But lots of us have worked for 50 years or more by the time we decide to slow down. I really love hearing from readers so thank you for sharing. 😀
Enjoy retirement!
I could write a long comment about every point you made here. Back in the 60s we had helms bakery here in California instead of Sunbeam. And we also had milk delivery. And a few others I can’t remember. Remember the Fuller Brush man? He used to deliver cleaning supplies for the home.
My husband had the same issue with his glasses. He receives free minimal medical because he is a native American. So he had his eyes examined at the reservation health center and then he went to Walmart or someplace to get them filled and they gave him the wrong prescription. But they lied to him and said they gave him the exact prescription. He ended up having to go to a regular optometrist and pay for an exam and purchase the glasses at the facility so not to make a mistake on his next order.
I could go on and on. Fortunately for us we have a decent allopathic Doctor Who owns her own office. I have known their family for years and I babysit their little girls several nights a week. So they are part of our family. I’m very fortunate in that regard.
That whole shopping bag policy began here in California about four or five years ago. I shop at a really good independent grocery store, which we are very fortunate to still have in business in our small town and they give me free bags. At least when I notice on my receipt they never charge me. But most stores do not provide free bags. When you purchase a lot of groceries, you also end up purchasing a lot of bags and less you bring your own bags with you. But then how are you going to pack your own bags? Because they aren’t allowed to touch your dirty bags. At most door there’s nowhere for you to move your groceries to a table to pack them while the next person is in line. So when I bring about 10 bags with me and start packing my groceries I get the evil eye from the cashier and the customers in line. But honestly, if everyone brought their own bags and packed them up at the register they would probably stop that stupid bag policy.
My understanding is very little of anything is recycled. Not because people put everything in the trash, but they are lying to us about their massive recycling businesses. It’s just not happening from what I’ve learned.
Like they told us during COVID-19, we are all in this together. They are so right.
Thank you for sharing Charlotte! I felt a bit whiny while writing the post but it was intended to point out that many someones are no longer employed because we do all these things ourselves. They aren’t onerous but they cost our communities in other ways. The primary driver seems to be corporate greed. And we can’t very well call it ‘corporate’ when anyone with an investment account or pension or 401k benefits from it through their stock values. It’s a tough problem to solve.
Is it a hattening?
Lol. Definitely a hattening!
Btw, how do you like the clothing and outfits in Lord Of Bones?