Turning a new leaf

Turning a new leaf


…and suddenly it’s here - a last day of work as
retirement beckons - new pastures - stretching before me,
hiking adventures - new horizons - some trepidation, but mostly anticipation
sail filled skies - salty breeze - sunshine sapping the frost’s chill
a new portfolio of possibilities whispering “come and play” …
colleagues call - Video farewells - best wishes and fond goodbyes -
an end to working from home - a longer end to work started a lifetime ago
transforming to living from new home - hopefully more connected
more adventurous - more physical - healthier
a shrugging off of the enterprise call and swapping to
an enhanced embrace for Mother Earth and time to give back
optimism for actions mixed with slight disbelief
internal time clock slowly resetting
friends to meet again, friendships to rekindle
new budgets worry - “it’ll be fine”
fear and excitement jostle
sunset and sunrise both attractive; new dawn or herald for a new day
young head feeling like a butterfly with new wings to dry
old head craves a slower aging metamorphosis
the reality sinks in - “there’s no work tomorrow”

…and suddenly it’s here that new beginning
this is the new morning - no alarm today - my agenda
dress, eat, hike or change the order?
new destination sights and sounds or stick with the familiar?
coast or moor?
“come and play” does call - loudly
but, there’s time to say “Hi” and chat a while
there’s time
to look and see
to listen and hear
to take it all in
to roll back the fear
Yes, it’s a new day - a new dawn
“It will be fine”
because tomorrow’s a new day too
and the sun is drying those new wings
readying flight
launching delight
old head distant and seeming already less important
“there’s no work tomorrow”