Highland Springs High School Reunions Find a Highland Springs Springer Join Springer Connection - FREE
Highland Springs High School

HOMEROOM
ROLL CALL
find your friends
join up, slacker
SMOKING AREA
message board
COMMITTEES
 
reunion info
help out
HISTORY CLASS  
the small towns
what was in then
 
CAFETERIA
pretty good food
recipes
 
THE PRINCIPAL
detention hall
you're in trouble
THE FLING
editorial rant
op-ed column
your two cents
THE GYM
current exploits
coach's corner
THE YEARBOOK
reunions past
PHONE BOOTH
tell a friend
 
 
 
   
 
You Don't Know Jack Adkins

Editorial ----

7-23-2010

Does "Freelancing" Mean The Same Thing As "Retired"?

Well, it’s been quite awhile since my last column for SC. Does anyone remember that I used to do columns?  I didn’t think so. That’s how long it has been.  Since our near death experience at Disneyland a lot of things have happened. 

First of all, we have moved from Florida back to VA.  We still have people ask us, “Why on earth would you move from Florida?”  Don’t get me started, just read all my past articles.  They should make you sorry you asked.

Anyway, while I was working in my last job and in the company vehicle, I was rear-ended by a vehicle and subsequently had to have a neck operation.  It put me out of work for awhile and then ended my career path completely.  Not that my career path was anything to be worried about.  So, we figured there was no better time than then to move back to VA.  The one thing I didn’t count on was that the economy in VA would choose that particular moment to tank.  So, not being able to work at my former occupation and having to rely on my previous skills, it’s needless to say that I have been “retired” for the last 2 years.

This “retirement” is the forced kind and although it gives you plenty of time to do things you’ve always wanted to do, it leaves you with less funds to accomplish those things.  As with most “retirees”, I have been learning to live on a budget.  Of course, my wife would tend to disagree with me on that one.

As with most old retired guys, I have learned to fill my time with other pursuits.  Since returning to VA I have joined the Masons, joined the Shriners, started a Sailor Bob Fan Club on Face Book and I even tried to get a Sailor Bob exhibit in the Valentine Museum but being as how the people that run it are NOT from Richmond, they just didn’t “get it” and shot themselves in the foot on that opportunity.  Let me see…Oh yeah -   I’m on the Blast from the Past committee, have joined a church and working myself into being active in it

My wife, says to me, “You are probably not ever going to be gainfully employed again due to your age so, you might as well go back to school for something you are interested in or that might benefit you personally.”  Well, after fighting that notion and about a million job applications and only 3 interviews later, I decided to take her advice.  So, I plan on attending school this fall.

We rented a place in Dinwiddie near my mother-in-law when we first moved back here and have now settled down in Varina.  The house we bought needs to be completely redone, because that’s what women want when they moved into a place.  You see, to a woman, a house is like a man, they “LOVE” it/him until they take possession of “it/him” and then the remodeling begins.  So needless to say, I have a long Honey-do list.

Also, every Saturday morning, I host a breakfast get together of Springer friends and new Springer friends at 9 Mile Grill (formerly Stuart’s Restaurant) in Highland Springs 9:00 am – 10:30 am and you are all welcome to come by and join in the fun.  It is called “Breakfast in the Springs” a.k.a. B.I.T.S.  You never know who will show up.

See you at Breakfast In The Springs-
Jack

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
 
Previous Rants

 
Anybody who wants to Know Jack Better can check out his earlier rants here:

Mousetrap In The Happiest Place On Earth >>>

Jack's Kamikaze Vacation >>>

Black and Blue at 50 >>>

Baby-Boomers and Hip Hop Shorts >>>

Motorcycle Snubbings >>>

Year-End Blessings >>>

The RVs Return to Capistrano >>>

The '73 Reunion and the Blast are now past >>>

Class of 1973 30-Year Reunion Report >>>

What I've Learned In Thirty Years >>>

Pre-Reunion Spoutings >>>

May and Memories of Summer >>>

Taxes and Bikini Waxes >>>

Late March potpourri>>>

Winter Doldrums etc. >>>

Telemarketers, ATMs and Raider fans >>

It Only Seems I've Gotten Mellow >>

End of the year Potpourri >>

Scrooge arrives early this year >>

Lighting up is getting harder in South Florida >>

Living with Yankee neighbors>>

The Bug Got Me and Other Stuff >>

Lauderdale, Attack Show Dogs and Beanie Baby Millionaires >>

Driver Insanity, Cabinets and Typhoid Mary >>

Clean Pot Holders and Shiny Tools >>

What time is Oprah on? >>

Pink Flamingoes are keeping me Awake >>

Don't Fish in Lightning Storms>>

I'm So Excited >>

Conspiracy Theory >>

Crying Towel >>

In With the New(year) >>

Blaming the Holidays >>