Madison

MADISON. Today is my eighth day of retirement.  I suppose that I’m slowly settling into the “retired” life.  I’ve been too busy since my last day of work to fully appreciate what retirement means.  That will happen sometime in the future.  But for now as the days roll along, I can frankly admit that I’m content.   Each day has been different.  No meetings, no deadlines, no worries or responsibility for others.  Surprisingly, letting go has not been difficult.  The reason? The work of Academic Affairs is under good stewardship.

On Friday, we began the first journey of our cross-country wayfaring adventures with a visit to Madison, WI to see an ole Kellogg Fellow buddy, Tim, and his wife, Pat.  The weekend visit began with a Betty Lou cruise and dinner on Lake Monona.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  The boat glided over calm, clear waters in gentle dusk breezes.  The panorama of grand summer homes and modest cottages, nestled among lush green foliage, splashed against the sky’s blue canvas, offering many artistic delights.  An early Saturday morning walk and a casual stroll at the bustling farmer’s market in front of Madison’s imposing state capital, capped off a perfect beginning to the weekend.  Saturday morning found us at the Olbrich botanical gardens where amblings among the floral pathways were equally invigorating as soothing.  The day was capped off with a delightfully refreshing rendition of Shakespeare’s The Gentlemen of Verona by the American Players Theatre.  As is the custom, just prior to the performance, we picnicked with our friends, feasting on Chinese chicken salad, quinoa and three-bean salad.  Accompanying us were Pat’s and Tim’s granddaughter, their son and his girlfriend, and their longtime friend, Julie, whose husband, Louis, passed away a week earlier.  Pat, Tim, Julie and Louis had been coming to these performances for thirty-four years.  In Louis’ memory, we made a champagne toast.

Like South Bend, Madison has a distinctive college-town feel, minus its industrial flavor.  Our friends live near downtown, within walking distance of the university, in a neighborhood peopled with two-story 1920’s Dutch Colonial and other styles reminiscent of the period.  The streets in this section of town are lined with large ash and elm trees.   Lovely gardens add warmth and charm to each home that seemingly invites the passer-by to come in for a visit.  Each home’s unique architectural style added further to its appeal.

And speaking of architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright, as one might expect, is no stranger here. This morning we attended services at the First Unitarian Society of Madison whose original structure was designed by the famed architect and is now an historical landmark.  The new church, recently completed just four years ago, adjoins the old church, but appears to be a separate facility.  What is remarkable is that the new church mimics a Frank Lloyd Wright design and is environmentally friendly, achieving gold LEAD certification.  For anyone visiting Madison, this is a must-see.  I was particularly moved by the minister’s reflection of the day, “Things I Learned While Walking Down Sesame Street.”  Although the message incorporated many themes promulgated by the children’s program, the one that struck me most was the lesson of acceptance, a poignant message for children in 1969 when the first show was transmitted.   At that time, the national psyche was scarred by war and by the struggles for racial, gender, and economic equality.  Oddly today, forty-four years later, these struggles persist.

The afternoon was relatively quiet; naps, a walk in Tim’s backyard, a veritable botanical garden with a goldfish pond and waterfall, reading the newspaper, and comparing single malt scotches.  I would not say that we are connoisseurs, but we both share a fondness for that liquid gold.  With our wives as judges, we did a blind taste test of four scotches, two Islay single malts, Laphroaig and Kilchoman, and two blended ones, Johnny Walker Red and Johnny Walker Double Black, the latter newly distilled in 2013.  Happily, Tim and I got all four correct.  The two Islays were peats, but we were both surprised how the JW Black rivaled the Laphroiaig for its peaty taste.  Save the red label, we agreed all were of superior quality and worthy of consumption.

So far, I’m having a wonderful introduction into retirement.  For my readers, I do want to call attention to the column in today’s New York Times by the famed neurologist, Oliver Sacks, on “The Joy of Old Age. (No Kidding.).”  The article offers me informative lessons to accept retirement as an opportunity to explore and enjoy all that life has to offer.   I believe, I’m off to a good start.