My Early Retirement

I had worked there for a whole month.

Superman said it was a real job, but I always held that it was only like a "real" job. I was technically only a substitute.

Whatever it was, I have now officially retired from it.

Yup.

At the age of 18.

In the evening my family ate out to celebrate my retirement.

Well, okay, we were also (mainly) celebrating Little Sister's last day of school.

But after a whole month of working as a kitchen substitute at the small Christian school, it felt like a celebration of my retirement from the job as well.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the job! It fit me perfectly and I got to see my friends everyday.

For a homebody like me, though, a month of being away from home for so many hours can be tiring. Also, following a career of being a "Jill-of-all-trades" means I like to keep things from being too repetitive.   

Washing off tables, sweeping and moping cafeteria floors is as repetitive as it gets.

And I don't like committing to things that keep me from being able to work on my writings and drawings, which this job was doing.

I guess I shouldn't say that I've retired from the "work force" though.

Just retired from one job.

I joked with my sister as we munched on our fries that I'll end up retiring 23 different times by the time I'm forty, if I call the end of each job a "retirement".

The real number will probably end up being much more than that.

What can I say? I enjoy working hard and love trying new things.

I can't imagine myself ever really retiring. Work is too exciting and enjoyable.

Especially when you're a "Jill-of-all-trades"

What I Found at the Mall

$4.24

That’s how much the cashier girl told me it was.

Sure, she was super cool looking; a Mohawk with a neon blue streak, nose ring, tattoos, and bright fun loving eyes.

And sure, the store was pretty cool too. Glowing sea salt rock lamps, weird whimsical jewelry, mythical looking statues and slightly dark, broody music (actually, one of Oldest Brother’s favorite bands was playing, Camera Obscura.)

 

earthboundtrading.com

But $4.24 just for that little box!? I had been willing to sacrifice a dollar in the name of novelty - maybe.

I put the box back and wandered out of the store with Little Sister. Walking through the rest of the mall though, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking away from something I’d regret not getting later.

What the girl suggested I could do with it nearly sold me on the spot, only my extreme stubbornness and unwillingness to be talked into anything kept me from pulling out my wallet.

If I was going to pay that much, it would be my own decision.

Still, the way she said I could get all my friends together and dare them all to eat one sparked my imagination. I could see my friends grimacing at the sight of the contents of the box, and me laughing at their sissiness.

That’s one of the marketing rules I’ve read about: get your customer to be able to envision clearly how your product would fit into their lives. She’s good.

It wasn’t only the marketing and friendly-cool cashier that was bugging me as we walked past countless clothing stores that all looked the same.

It was one of my unofficial bucket list items.

Something I’ve always wanted to try.

Ever since I was little and had seen some kids eat it on the camping survival episode of Fetch with Ruff Ruffman, I had been open to the idea of trying one.

I had thought I’d never get a chance to try one though – but there they were, a little box of them – salted and everything!

What was a little money for a lifelong wish come true – and a chance to show my friends just how crazy I really am.

So Little Sister and I ended up back in the store. I made a bee line for the little box in the strange candy section and brought it to the same cool cashier girl.

When she saw us back, I gave her a resigned, happy laugh and said,

“I decided on the crickets!”

Guess What!? Big Announcement!!

As kids, we all say we’re going to do big and impossible sounding things when we grow up.

We’re going to fly to the moon

We’re going to become millionaires

We’re going to live on a horse ranch and ride horses all day long (yes, that one was mine)

Once we become adults, though, some of us realize that those things were unrealistic and won’t ever come true. Maybe we don’t even want them now, anyway…

However, this Friday (May 15), one of those impossible sounding dreams will come true for me

I’m going to be publishing my first book!

Albeit, it’s only an ebook; but in this digital age, digital books are just as valid as the print version.

Its name – drum roll please – is Hearts Set Free

It’ll be a collection of poems that I’ve written over the years. It will be distributed through the world's largest distributor of indie ebooks, Smashwords.

I don’t have a book cover to share on here, because I actually have two designs and would to like to hear other people’s opinion on which is their favorite (also just because polls are fun!)

To add your vote before it’s too late, head over to Twitter

(Plus, if you hurry there might be a little – ok, big – prize involved)

From My Sketchbook: Portrait 15

From My Sketchbook: Portraits 11 & 16