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THE GREAT
HIATUS 2
Summer '06 -
September '07
Again, despite our best intentions, it’s been a year
since we have been able to come to Origanna Woods. But, it’s been an
extremely eventful year. Most of it was for the good, but it started
off badly. Two days after we left Missouri in late June, 2006, I had
another serious gall bladder attack and then another on July 4th that sent
me to the hospital. "Out she comes," said Old Doctor Baird and they
sent me upstairs to prepare for surgery the next day.
Dr. Baird is a bit of a legend in Champaign. He’d retired years ago,
but helped out in the ER on holidays, so that younger physicians might
have the day off. As they wheeled me upstairs, Dr. Baird stopped and
patted my hand and said, “Don’t worry you’ll be fine.” Then he put
on his hat and went out the door, smiling once more.
Two days later, Dr. Baird was found dead in his home of a massive
aneurysm. He’d had it for years, quite inoperable, but he had just
gone on working, waiting for the inevitable day. I was quite likely
his last patient in a remarkably long career. The surgery itself was
uneventful, but I got an infection in the wound and spent six of the
hottest weeks on record flat on my back at home.
I finally got back to work in September.
Unfortunately, life at the Undergraduate Library was not the same as it
was in Joyce’s day. The younger generation was in full throat and
instigating all sorts of changes in the name of progress. Each day,
it became less and less a prestigious academic library and more like a
cross between a public library and Hollywood Video. We even had
“video gaming nights"!!!! Dean Downs must be spinning in his grave.
More and more of my colleagues are retiring early and frankly the idea was
beginning to appeal to me as well. I’d like to work another year, until
the land contract is finished, but I’m not sure I can manage it. Work is
no longer fun and morale is very low.
FEBRUARY 2007
Mom is not doing well on her own anymore. Her Congestive Heart Failure is
getting worse and she has had several mini heart attacks. Finally,
Karen and I decided that it was best that she go into assisted living and
Karen began searching for somewhere suitable and affordable. Through
her contacts as Media Mogul of Putnam, Connecticut's favorite radio
station, WINY, Karen managed to get Mom into Christopher Heights Assisted
Living in Webster, MA. It’s a very nice place and, oddly enough, Mom
is quite prepared to go without fuss, a sure indication of how ill she
really is.
MARCH 2007
I’ve decided to retire at the end of the academic year. The atmosphere
here has changed so that I really can not imagine staying at the Library
for another year. I made inquiries and my retirement pay would only
be $30/month less than my current salary and with some rent coming out of
the little house now, I will be ahead of the game. Also as I have no
legal survivor for the pension, I can take my old survivor benefit (17K)
in cash. I could roll it over into the pension, but it would only
produce an extra $100/month. If I take the cash, I can pay off the
Missouri Land Contract and two other notes besides and net more than
$500/month in savings. Plus have cash for a well and to finish the
house. So with any luck, June should see me in Missouri.
MAY 2007
After 31 years, I retired from the U of I library on May 31. No
regrets really, and I went with no fanfare. I will miss a few
people, but it was time to go. And now the real adventure
begins!!!!!
From
this...
...To this!
At the library...
...Down on
the farm
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