The Irreverent Widow

Earlier this week, I received a piece of mail that once again left me wondering about the state of our so called technologically advanced civilization.  I walked into my kitchen and casually leafed through the unwanted pile of envelopes and useless flyers from a variety of stores I never shop in.  And there I saw it….lurking beneath a circular.  Four  sinister letters, emblazoned upon the corner of  an otherwise un-noteworthy white business envelope:  AARP.  The American Association of Retired Persons. Or People. Or Peeps.  For those of you actually of retirement age, peeps is slang for “people”…I’m not making reference to those yellow marshmallow chicks served up at Easter.  Although I think an assisted living development filled with marshmallow chicks playing Mahjong would be something to really look forward to in my later years.

When I saw those four letters, I flinched.  For a moment, I thought perhaps I had turned 50 (can you believe people retire at 50…what do they do with the remainder of their lives?) without realizing it.  I thought,  ”Oh please dear God, NO!  It’s not my time yet!”

Upon closer inspection, and perhaps upon donning my reading glasses, I joyously realized that it was not addressed to me…but to my 17 year old daughter.  The one who just went to the prom and until recently, didn’t carry a balance much above $32.50 in her savings account.

Retirement  is looking rather bleak for her. And joining would use up half of her savings. I’m afraid the AARP people won’t be sending her a membership card anytime soon.

Speaking of retirement, I recently spoke with a professional college guidance person.  Someone to help me as I begin the lovely journey  towards college-dom with my equally lovely daughter, who is currently a junior in high school.  After a lengthy conversation, he told me I’d need to take into consideration my “retirement” plans as he helps me to consider the financial commitments required when dealing with the reality of being the sole provider for 3 children…and facing 12 years of tuition payments.

If he could have seen the face I was making as I held my cell phone to my ear, he wouldn’t have thought it very amusing. Retirement plans?  I have just recovered from the loss of my husband and am starting a new life. New work. New everything. I am a forty-something year old teenager. By the time I’m 90, I imagine I’ll feel as if I’m 55.   And maybe then I’ll be looking for the AARP peeps to reach out and touch me.

Until then, I have just graduated from the college of life. I’m only about 5 years ahead of my daughter.  And I would have it no other way.