Previously

OK, so I think I just became a country music fan. There are defining
moments in every person’s life. Some are horrible days that have
lasting affects; some are strokes of luck that change everything and
sometimes people are simply assured that they are loved. That might be
the most prolific thought I have ever had. And seeing as how my mind is
reeling right now, I’m impressed with myself. All I know is that Dana
Fairbanks loves me. I’m not sure why, I still need to work on that. But
she loves me. For the first time I can remember, I am assured of
someone’s love. And that feels ***** great. Suddenly, coffee at the
Planet sounds damn good to me. I hope the grin fades before I walk in
there, I don’t want to share this with anyone. Actually, no I don’t. I
hope this grin lasts a long, long time.

Chapter 7

I have always been one of those people who prefer to have fun today
and deal with tomorrow, well, tomorrow. Not one of those people who
have to have every minute of every day planned out. Those people that
become the friends that actually pull out a PDA to make plans, because
they have the next twelve years planned out already. Those people who
know the exact day and year of their retirement, because they know
every penny they are going to spend for the next forty years. They even
have it mapped it out on some computer somewhere. If we look at the
plans carefully enough, I think they even throw in potty time in the
plan. And god forbid they go out in an unplanned excursion, maybe three
hours out with friends, it throws off the balance and they end up
stressed over getting it all back on track for at least the next three
weeks, because you know it was three unplanned hours and they spent
money not accounted for in the retirement plan, Bluh!

But then again, I do sort of take it a little too far. I certainly
can’t tell anyone when I’ll retire, because I haven’t thought about it
longer than to say, sooner is better than later. I do have a savings
account. Lenore taught me that lesson the hard way. Like when I
couldn’t cover her bills and mine, yet somehow, her bills were covered
and my rent not so covered. But a retirement account? Please. Have you
met me? Bette and I get into it every year at tax time. And every year
she is surprised all over again that I don’t have a retirement account.
She doesn’t get it and she finds it totally irresponsible of me. In her
mind, I need to plan for tomorrow, at least to some extent if I ever
want to retire. And in my mind, how can I plan for retirement when I
haven’t even figured out what I’m doing for lunch tomorrow? I have no
idea what I’m doing tomorrow, let alone next week, month, year or
decade for that matter.