My first two days of retirement

Yesterday was the first day of the next phase of my life.  Retirement, after a year’s delay, has finally begun.  The day started pleasantly.  Because the morning air was cool, I did not sit on my deck with a the newspaper and a cup of coffee as anticipated.  Rather I spent over two hours downtown at Chicory Cafe with my MacAir reading and delivering e-mail messages.     I was more relaxed than I would have imagined.  Typically, I’m there briefly to pick up a good New Orleans coffee with chicory on my way to work.  Occasionally, I would meet faculty colleagues there for coffee and breakfast, ostensibly to discuss university affairs or to gauge campus climate. The rest of the day passed quickly with visits to the Social Security office, to the Verizon store, and to the supermarket.  Quite a contrast to my usual day of meetings — planning, finding solutions, etc. Later in the day, Melanie and I played a game of cribbage; I barely squeezed a win. But she did beat me in a game of Kings’ Corner.  After dinner, a faculty friend came over with a bottle of single malt.  We sat on the deck oblivious to the cool breezes.

Today was similar to yesterday, only this time instead of coffee downtown, I went to the gym to workout, and then to visit a friend in the hospital.  Later today, I’ll do some reading, and maybe a late afternoon nap, pleasures not possible during my university administrative days.

So, I’m slowly easing into the retired life.  Friends tell me that I will be busier than ever.  Perhaps so, but for the moment I am content to be idle, to allow myself time to relax. I’m happily spending more time with Melanie, a great perk of retirement.  Fairly soon, we’ll begin our cross-counrry road trip, visiting family and friends along the way.

It may seem as if I’m making an easy transition from work to retirement.  My emotions last week were a jumble of elation and sadness.  I was happy to retire, but I knew deep in my heart that I would miss terribly my faculty and staff colleagues.  It was not easy to leave the office on Friday.   Fourteen years at IU South Bend as executive vice chancellor for academic affairs cannot be wiped away so readily.  The separation finally hit me when I turned over my master key to my replacement, Johnny.  I, who could open practically any door at IUSB, suddenly had no access.  And then there were the streams of visitors stopping by to express what my tenure has meant to them and to bid me farewell.  In the early afternoon, a group of faculty, administrators, community friends, and Melanie surprised me with the presentation of Dora Natella‘s beautiful sculpture that for several years graced my office.  I’m deeply humbled by this gift and thank all those who made it possible.  Already overwhelmed, and dreading my final good-byes to my staff, several faculty and administrators came later in the afternoon with bottles of champagne to celebrate my retirement. Finally at five o’clock there were more hugs from well-wishers as I walked to my car.

Later that evening our good friends the Wycliffs celebrated my retirement by treating Melanie and me to dinner at the Carriage House, am elegant restaurant in South Bend.

Over the weekend, I was in a state of mourning.  That’s the best way I can describe my feelings, knowing that on Monday, July 1st, I would not be going to work. I spent two days grieving.  For fourteen years, IUSB has been a very special part of my life.  For that reason, I will allow myself to grieve, knowing that as time passes and as I enter into new adventures, my grief will fade away and be replaced by new joys.