Retirement

I knew the day was coming.  It was inevitable.   All that time... round round it went.  It felt like I was going to be breaking up the team.  Then again, it should probably should have happened a long time ago.

It is funny how at the beginning you never really think the end is around the corner. You're too caught up in the moment.  Sure everyone knows that nothing last forever.  It's a process of slow erosion.  Then you start to notice things start to slip. The first few times you can explain it away.  But after a while it becomes all too clear. People help you dance around the truth.  They'll say things like you got a few good miles left. But there is something no one can dance around.  One word that is unavoidable: balding.  A sign of wear and tear, or simply age.

It didn't have to be emotional.  Sure, the first thing on everyone's mind is money.  But I had planned ahead.  By putting a little away each month, I was ready.  It's amazing how quickly it adds up.  There was a bit of knot in my throat when I thought of the money.  Everyone always says you can live with less money.  Maybe it wasn't the money.  Maybe it was more the feeling of loss.

Retirement.  After all those years, I was finally retiring my car.  Too many miles on those original tires.  Probably it was best to think about my tires for what they had given me:  no flats.