NEXT Phase!

NEXT Phase!

Here we are at the end of another August.  The last weekend before Universities populate, school re-convene, and summer vacations come to a close.  Seems to me that's the circle we go around every year and adjust to every time.

Well a new phase has begun for this "chauffeur" as well.  I will never forget my Dad's last words to me: "Take Care Of Yourself".  Those words are etched on my heart and mind.  So last week I removed myself from the twice a week driving involvement with the seniors retirement residence and have embraced a semi-retired status.

People have asked me what I plan to do?  Well for now, I will help with driving buses for cruise ships for Ambassatours.  It will be a great way to see the sites with vacationers from far and wide.  I'll mow the lawn when needed.  I will visit my camp in Margaree Valley.  I'll sit and watch the sea from my back step.  Whatever it is I will be able to flip a coin and do things as they present themselves to me.

I read an article today that said:

“Semi-retirement refers specifically to a person’s relationship to paid work. The semi-retirees work for pay only enough hours to meet their monetary needs. After that they spend much of their time in non-paid work like strengthening relationships, pursuing hobbies or performing community service. Semi-retirees arrange their lives so that they can afford the ‘luxury’ of not having to work for pay from sun to sun" - (Retirement Cheatsheet)

I like that idea and at 60 years young I think it is about time.  My Dad retired at 60 and always said I should plan to do the same.  Well Dad, I followed your advice and am enjoying it.

This, therefore, will conclude "Memoirs of a Chauffeur".  It was an interesting phase too, but if you really want to know the true 'story' behind seniors residences I'd be happy to enlighten you.  Drop me a line :)

Carpe diem!!

Paul

That's a Rap!

Hi everyone..

[I meant to mention how grateful I am to have had over 1400 people read my posts.  It is gratifying to be noticed online.]

My summer has been fun - two days at Shannex and the rest of the time renovating, driving for Ambassatours, or just sitting in the sun.

I have been successful at conducting a driver/guided tour to Lunenburg/Mahone Bay a couple times a week.  It sure is a beautiful place to visit and giving a tour helps me find out even more about the places and give others a chance to join me.  Mixed in with this tour I have had a couple Peggy's Cove runs for cruise ships and charters to transfer passengers from a hotel to Murphy's and back and YMCA campers to (or from) New Glasgow.

It has been a great summer with our warm weather. 

Enjoy yourself and be careful! Talk soon as I arrange my life a bit :)

Paul

Summer Retreats

Hi everyone

It has been awhile since I had the inclination to type an entry here but I felt like bringing you up to speed.

June and July 2016 have been part-time months - Mondays and Tuesdays only - and it has been less stressful knowing that only two days are required to be on 'triple alert' to assist seniors in city traffic.  Traffic is great during the summer though and getting to and from destinations has been great!!!

Today (July 20) a scheduled Peggy's Cove luncheon trip made for an extra day as the new driver had to still handle the daily schedule.  We left at 10:00 sharp and enjoyed a fantastic meal at the Rhubarb Restaurant in Indian Harbour, then visited Acadian Maple in Upper Tantallon, and drove back to the city through Hammonds Plains and finished with a mini city tour.  Everyone truly loved the trip and everyone expressed a sincere thank you for the day and that they miss me.  I just responded that I'd be back Monday and Tuesday, but it is nice to be missed :)

I found that this road trip was very relaxed and relaxing.  No deadlines and just plain conversation and fun. 

I drive some for Ambassatours Gray Line seasonally, and have for the last 14 years.  Taking seniors out gives me a chance to keep my commentary fresh and on the tip of my tongue.  They really enjoy the added information.

I was always told that when one semi-retires he can be busier than he thinks.  True enough.  I still work 5 days a week if not more, but at the same time the days I work for Ambassatours often start later and I am always home for supper and a good night's sleep.  I have added Lunenburg driver/guided tours to my list and this has really been fun.  The heat of the day can be a challenge with a kilt, but it makes time fly when the walking tour is included when you arrive in town.

Overall, I am enjoying semi-retirement.  I have variety, still keep in touch with the seniors and meet new people with Ambassatours.  And two paycheques makes a difference too :)  When the CPP kicks in it will be even sweeter.

When you reach 60 I highly suggest drawing on CPP.    Find a part-time job that you are passionate about, make a few dollars, and enjoy life!  Balance is key when there are only 5 working years left before old age security.

In the meantime - all the best and keep me posted on your summer.

Chauffeur Paul

Part-time Ministry

There comes a time in every work assignment when one needs to move on.  As chauffeur at the Residence I decided in my 60th year on this earth to take the advice of my Dad and semi-retire at 60 starting on June 6th, 2016.  This entry is to let you know that my full week of transporting seniors has been reduced to two days each week (Mondays and Tuesdays).

There very well may be stories that come out of this change and it may very well be because of this change.  In fact many residents have told me they will have to change their appointment dates to coincide with Mondays and Tuesdays.

There will be another driver taking up the slack (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) and there is a Sunday driver.

I will keep you posted.

Have a great weekend.

A Night at Needham

During one of the weekly City Tours – this particular trip to remember the Halifax Explosion (Dec 6, 1917 – 9:05 a.m.) - we drove around the city so we would eventually go along the harbor from Bedford Basin towards the Pier. 

 

I told the story of that 'dark day' and pointed out the place the explosion occurred and then commented on the help we received from Boston.  As we drove around I pointed out the school that still has blinds pulled in memory of the children saved on that fateful day.  Then we drove back to the North End and visited Fort Needham where a monument with bells sits as a memorial to the Explosion.  This is in front of the Hydrostone area of Halifax (buildings built to withstand another such explosion and still standing beautifully and strong today as 96 years ago). 

 

Ms P (usually quite quiet) piped up and asked if she could tell a story.  She commented that she lived nearby and a lady was in child labour and she was making very scary noises.  Ms P got in contact with two friends and to avoid the scary noises they spent the night on Fort Needham hill (a spooky spot today). 

 

She still giggles about it.

Ms P has very bad eye sight and has told me often as she gets into the van how "pretty soon she won't be able to", or "I think the van it getting taller" to which we both smile and attempt to find a way to lower it.  One thing she never misses to repeat is "don't get old - it ain't for sissies"

As bad as her eye-sight is she still visits Sobeys and on her own finds the few things she needs.

[During this Easter Season (2016) think of a senior near you and remember them in your prayers.]

Short and Sweet

Ms L is an educated and cultured resident at the residence.  There is never a day that she does not take advantage of the chauffeur service.  She is a small statured lady with spunk and she still attends a weekly Art Appreciation course at the NS Art Gallery.  I take her to her weekly hairdressing appointment as well as many trips to Lawton’s or second hand stores where she enjoys looking for novel items (sometimes buying but often not).  When I talk to Ms L I have to raise my voice but while looking at her she moves her mouth mimicking my words.

Ms L has children and one of her daughters lives in Australia and is often in Gaza working as a journalist.  She is spoken of with great pride by her mother.

No matter what may be on her mind, or if she is cold or hot, feeling bad or good, she will always comment on the “nice day” – what a great attitude.

In 2015 Ms L was assigned to an extended care suite and requires a care worker as her dementia has advanced to a dangerous state of confusion. 

 

I miss the ole Ms L.  I seldom see her now other than within the halls of the building but she continues to be quite the lady and dressed to the nines.  If the weather looks bad she gives me "permission to go home" and giggles.

[Ms L has a look very similar to what my mother will look like should she make it to 90 years of age (elegantly dressed, proper manners and the like), so I enjoyed our trips together for that very reason J)

Drama-mean

As you can imagine, with 170 people in the residence and all at a different class, this can lend itself to a rather interesting dynamic as the community blends during some functions or people tend to get to know each other better (or worse).

This became quite clear the other day when after several weeks of obvious flirtation that something had to come to a head.

Ms J and Mr J have been together a very long time.  Ms J is paralyzed now so Mr J tends to be backing off and not as attentive to her.  One can see why this might happen based on human need but at the same time Ms J is a stage in her fragile life where his attention is needed even more now.

Having said that, Mr J has been quite obvious at each musical function by dancing with any lady willing.  Lately he tends to lean towards one particular lady and in front of his watching wife.  She is feeling bad and angry.

So with this background let me tell you of an interesting confrontation displaying pure drama.

Ms J had an appointment made and was waiting patiently but with obvious agitation as she wanted to get out of the building.  Ms K was sitting on an opposite side of the lobby waiting for her friends to come down for lunch.  [May I say here that Ms K is a woman that minces no words and has a tendency to take on a leadership role in a group.]  So as the hour arrived I motioned to Ms J that it was time to go and she started her way to the door,  This takes her a quite a bit of time based on her disability.  I was standing at the door to open it when she got closer but she walked by me and approached Ms K (a friend of the lady whom Mr J has been flirting with by-the-way). 

Ms J looked at Ms K.. and said with a firm angry tone "stay away from my husband!!".  Well you could have heard a pin drop in the lobby at this point as everyone thought someone may experience a stroke during what could soon be a heated discussion.  Ms K looked Ms J in the eye and said "I have never and am not and never will look for your husband.. NO, NO, NO!, it was not me" 

Ms J was not sure if Ms K was telling her the truth but based on the reaction she turned and made her way to the door to go to the van.  Her poor care worker was unsure at this point how to handle this, but as Ms J got between the doors and expressed her anger I assured her that we needed to go for the little drive to her appointment which would help her relax.

When she got into the van, she soon calmed down, and one could see that her anger was on the fine line to sadness.  Her appointment was to check her eyes for glaucoma - she feared it tremendously - and this must have fueled her anger even more.  She could not see the lady who was attracting her husband, and the last thing she needed was to not see physically.  This must have sickened her.  I told her I would shoot up a prayer and she said she was staying positive going in.

A couple of hours later I received the call to pick up Ms J and when I arrived I kept it light and asked her "so what is the verdict?" to which she smiled and said "I do not need to see this doctor for six months" - she was fine.

The drama continues as you can imagine and I do not see Ms J downstairs as she can not stand the looks and the atmosphere.  This a sad state of "affairs".

[In a place that has over 160 people, tempers can flare - and it can start over class, culinary preference, and couples.  Such a communal  atmosphere is interesting to watch]