This Is Your Brain in Retirement

I've had a few people express concern about my brain in retirement. There's been a veiled concern that my slower days may have led to my brain becoming less sharp. This question -- meant with genuine concern -- implies that my working days kept me sharp, or at least sharper. Folks, let me chat first about my working days, at least the last few years.

I spent approximately two hours a day riding rush hour subways. My days in the office frequently had brain numbing meetings and too often the time not spent in meetings was spent being a referee for personal issues and reminding staff that they needed to fill out time cards if they wanted to get paid. None of this stimulated my brain. Yes, there were some interesting projects, and I worked with some bright people, but every day wasn't all brilliant thoughts and expanding horizons.

Now...I actually keep up with the news, for better or worse. I keep up with sports, especially baseball and football. I'm following Derek Jeter's last season with the Yankees -- wish it was a better one for the Yankees -- and Eli Manning and Rueben Randle's season with the Giants. I keep up with exercise and have far surpassed any exercise I did in the last few years.

And I've been reading, something that got pushed aside. This weekend I finished two mystery novels and have a good start on the third. I've discovered several new writers, including John Connolly, who kept me totally engrossed for the weekend. His books focus on former New York City Police Officer, Charlie Parker, and are mystery novels with more than a splash of Stephen King thriller included. I started with his latest book, "The Wolf in Winter," via NetGalley, which offers digital galleys to bloggers and reviewers. I liked "The Wolf in Winter" so well that I had to go back and learn more about the characters. It's a complicated set of stories, but they have totally kept my interest.When I finish the book I am reading I need to take a rest. The characters and the plots kept me reading, but they are dark, dark stories. My next reading project is "The Goldfinch."

Best of all, there are times just to think and not be rushed, which might be the best gift of all. Is two months too young for a tutu for Baby Nora? Where should my group eat when we're in Savannah next month? Who in my life needs prayer?

There has been one issue that has come out of having more time. I seem to blog less. When I was working I didn't have the time to worry over every post. Now I am turning into somewhat of a perfectionist. Is the post good enough? Are the pictures well cropped? Do I have a vision for Buttercupland? In an effort to blog more, I will be blogging every day this week. They may not be the most polished posts, but I will be getting back into the writing and blogging I've enjoyed so much.

That's the state of Buttercup's brain. Happily, perking along. To end this post on a fun note, let's have some Monkey Monday pretty-in-pink fun.

This snowsuit would cheer up a cold winter day, and not just on Monkey Monday. 

It's been fun catching up. Now I think I'll tootle over to Talbot's and try on the "Happy Thoughts" shirt. It's been on my mind. As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.