WORKING STIFF

Janet has retired, but I’m still working, foolishly.  She’s enjoying travel and sleeping in and having her nails done twice a week! Since her retirement she’s traveled to England, rafted down the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River, partied hard in Hilton Head and managed to squeeze some “greg” time at the Delaware shore. What have I done in the meantime? Save for that one week’s respite, I have worked. I am a working stiff after all.

In my defense I have been a freelancer in the television industry since 1981 and for most of that stretch I have had to hustle for work. I have had some success in my chosen profession and provided for my family rather well during all these years, though I have also endured watching my fortunes ebb and flow with a lack of work. There’s always a fear that saying “no” to work is bad karma; that it will never circle back. The pendulum will not swing in my favor again and then I’m left holding my bills without the ability to pay them off. So, I say “yes” to everything!

Janet, in her infinite wisdom, realizes the importance this working stuff is to my psyche wasn’t yet demanded I say “no” to future work, but she has said “take less!" I like to say I'll never retire, I'll just not get anymore work! 

NO

Well, tonight I’m going to enjoy some downtime. She’s meeting me in New York City after my shift at CBS and we’re going out to dinner. The difficult thing is as a working stiff most of my experience with NYC is the logistics of getting to work; train and bus schedules, EZ Pass, parking, etc. Sure, I can readily rattle off the how’s and why’s of work, but not what to do with my leisure time. I try to get in and out of the city as quickly as possible. Ugh. I gotta figure this out fast!. She will NOT settle for a slice of pizza.