I don't think I thought about retirement at all until the last two years I was working. I knew when I started my job at the hospital there would be a pension plan and insurance package, but I didn't think about how valuable these perks would become. At twenty-one years old, retirement was the last thing I could think of. My goal at the time was the American Dream, to own a home and have a family. I was never one to dream of world travel or exotic vacations, I just wanted a solid marriage and healthy children. I wanted dirt, a good healthy earth. I wanted room for a garden.
I dreamt of growing our food, becoming self-sustaining, and shielding our family from food scarcity, insecurity, pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides. From my years at college, I was always searching for a better way to live and eat. I didn't want my children to have processed food. I wanted them to have the best shot of living life as happy and healthy human beings.
I began this journey by breastfeeding them until they were a year old, then preparing fresh food as they grew, making homemade yogurt, banana swirls, and oatmeal. Juicing each morning, was the next step, I would juice organic veggies and fruits as their breakfast drink.
They loved it and as they grew older, would take out of the fridge bowels of prepped goods toss them into the juicer, and take them off to the bus stop to get to school on time. My three sons thrived and became good students and superb athletes.
When my daughter was born some seven-plus years after my last son, she fell into harmony with our habits, she would be the one to share this lifestyle with her friends and family. Most could not believe that her mother would buy carrots and apples in 50-pound bags, but that was the norm for me in the good ole days. As I said, studying nutrition in college was my thing. I know all you youngins think, what's the big deal, but this was back in 1973, when Teflon was king in cooking, as was talcum powder, both proven killers.
Now I am a #silverblogger and have time to reflect on my choices and things that I have done over the years, I ask myself, where did all that time go? I remind myself how good life has been to me, even though I was challenged many times, with illness and injury, and the passing of my parents, friends, and family, I realize there is a circle of life that all of us must accept. When I see my eight grandchildren, healthy and all growing like weeds, I am pleased and a calmness comes over me, a true sense of peace.
Life is good, a gift so we need to wake up and listen to nature, see the path we are headed for, stop the madness, get back to the basics, and care for ourselves, our loved ones, and MOTHER EARTH.
Break bread together, be kind, and share. We only have one life to live, do it with zest...now where's the butter?
@lizelle you have created the best community for caring and sharing, thank you, dear friend. The bread is still warm, stop in for tea and honey toast. ❤️
Awe my dear friend, what a heartwarming beautiful post! You and your man are such an inspiration for me and many others here on Hive. I just published a blog, felt a tad melancholic tonight, but your blog for sure brightened my mood, as what you've written about is exactly what I am trying to tell our friends. We need to make good memories and draw as much out of life as we possibly can. Your family is blessed to have the two of you, a shining example of living life to the fullest.
I'll be over in a shot to have some of that warm bread, no need to toast mine, I'll lather on some butter (not good I know) and drizzle it with honey, or better still, some of @thebigsweed's famous maple syrup😍
Gosh Lizzie, I just love you, you are one of the best people I know. Thank you for such heartfelt words. You have made my day girlfriend.
Bread fresh out of the oven is irresistible to me, I could eat the whole loaf and call it a day. Now that my herbs are coming in, I make an herb with olive oil mix and just dip in, delish!
So nice to hear from you, be well...we'll talk.
That's so much healthier and yum as well! I used to mix crushed garlic cloves with olive oil and pour it over pasta, but it would be great with hot bread as well. Think that will be on my menu today, I have Rosemary and other herbs in the garden!
Have a wonderful Sunday my friend.
Your kind words always warm my soul.
The more butter the better!
Aww, I salute you for that healthy lifestyle. Not everyone can do that, we are living in this world where everyone are having a bad lifestyle and eating fast foods as a way to make things somehow easy in life. You must have passed that traits to your children then. Peace, love, and nature. 💚
I'm sure your children grew up healthy and strong with all those healthy and nutritious foods you served them before. Admiring your dedication and patient to do all those stuff.♥️
It takes some work but so worth it, healthy diets take a lifetime of learning.
Be well and happy
Light in era of decay introduction of frozen vegetables, much like my parents I continued with fresh wherever possible. Take my hat off to you learning to grow or buy big and make fresh throughout your life.
Your journey you ran it well, fulfilled it in a delightful way, no time to tarry over what if, hope many listen to your words of wisdom.
!LUV