A Little Vacation From Retirement

                    A Little Vacation From Retirement

Retirement is wonderful, if you haven't tried it yet I highly recommend it.

I have found that I don't know when I had time to work, seriously. Between the grandchildren, traveling to areas that I haven't been to and just doing things that I have always wanted to do, but never had time for, I stay really busy.

After the Thanksgiving festivities and before the Christmas rush, my wife and I decided to take a vacation from retirement and get away. Now, one must understand, when you retire you have to re-program your thoughts. You do not have to wait till the weekend to travel or go and do the things you want to do because everyday becomes Saturday.

After I made the decision to retire, I started cutting my grass during the week instead of Saturday. If I cut it on Saturday people may think I still work and that just wouldn't do, so I cut it on Monday or Wednesday.

It is a feeling of comfort when you know that the weekends is the time you can utilize for fun instead of outdoor yard occupation.

On a Friday afternoon we received a call from some dear friends who advised they had a condo that needed to be occupied or else it would go to waste and wondered if we had time to use it. Well after some thought, I think it may have taken a few seconds, we said that instead of letting it go unused, we would help them out by utilizing it.  As it turned out it was a seven day package in a wonderful destination that my wife and I both love, Pigeon Forge.

Shopping, shows, dining, and just enjoying the early winter season, would be a treat. If you have never experienced the East Tennessee mountains in the fall and winter, well you are missing out on what could be, in my opinion the 8th wonder of the world.

Upon arriving at our vacation from retirement, we were given a nice package of things to do while at the resort and in the cities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg during our stay. Believe me , there is something to do for every age in both places. A week is not nearly enough time to see and do and shop.

On Monday we attended a nice, yet informal get-together of resort vacationers for breakfast and a review of what to do while vacationing in the Smokies. Entertainers from different theaters in the area came and made a presentation about their shows, giving away either free tickets or discounted tickets.

One gentleman presented his show, "In The Groove," a Motown music revue. Mr. CJ Jefferson was his name. CJ is one of the members of the Temptation Revue that travels the country showcasing the Temptations and their music.

He offered free tickets to his show if you could name the song that he would sing a brief portion of. Well that was not an issue for me, being that The Mighty Temptations is one of my all time favorite singing groups. So after receiving my admission tickets, I thanked him and soon he and I were talking about his work and travels, I met a new friend. 

The show was great, I highly recommend it if you love the songs of Smokey Robinson, Peaches and Herb, and yes, The Temptations.  I even got  to make my debut on stage and learned two moves from the Temptation's choreography along with the Temptation bow.

After the show and on the way back to our resort, the wind began to pick up and the thickness in the air was that of smoke. The mountain fires that had plaques the Smokies for weeks were picking up and the wind was becoming a major factor in the flames.

The balcony from the room in which we were staying faced the beautiful city of Gatlinburg and I could see more smoke rising from the area. Little did I know the night ahead for the residents,  business owners, and vacationers was one of destruction and despair.

It is strange that life can change in a moment without notice. 

Alerts on my cell phone began going off and news bulletins on the TV flooded the airways as I learned that the parkway up to Gatlinburg was ablaze. Within a short time, the wind began picking up again and the embers and flames started spreading getting out of control and climbing the mountain.

As the night crept on, I began to see lots of smoke and actual flames rising up in the sky as the wind gust fueled what was to be the worst fire in the history of Tennessee.

From my resort balcony to Gatlinburg is probably no more than 10 miles, but to see the massive flames above the trees was sad yet frightening.

As the exodus of people were evacuating from Gatlinburg, another problem arose, the fire had spread to the Dollywood area threatening the theme park. This blaze was closer to us and as I watched, not knowing if we would have to leave, the flames rose there as in Gatlinburg to heights that were mystifying.

The massive number of first responders from counties all around with their sirens blaring raced through the streets as we listened and watched.

Facebook and other social media sites were filled with news and questions from people who love the area, the mountains, the venues. Folks wondering what was going on and if people were safe.

Isn't it strange that it takes a disaster or crucial moment for people to show their willingness to help their fellow man when we all should do this on each and every given day.

Around the hour of 1 am and only after some needed rainfall, did I see the flames around the Dollywood area begin to calm, so I decided to get some sleep feeling safer than I did hours before.

Now it is two days later, the rain has been coming down all morning, the mountains look at peace and from where I look no flames can be seen. Hopefully all of the first responders, firefighters, police officers, EMT's and the host of people volunteering are feeling that needed sigh of relief and the thought of going forward is present in the minds of the area people.

Each day is a blessing, each minute is precious and each person has a purpose.

Little did I know that my vacation from retirement would be so full of excitement, but on the bright side, I got to make a new friend and learn The Temptation bow.

Life Happens