Some of you may have noticed that I’ve resumed making entries in my Deck Log column and are wondering what that speaks to developments in my personal life. As you’ll recall, I’d suspended my regular Deck Log entries (other than my annual Silver-Age challenge and my holiday columns) because of work constraints. I was putting in twelve-hour days at a job that was too lucrative to pass up.
Note the tense of that last sentence: was.
As of the first day of 2024, I am officially retired, for the third and last time. It wasn’t that the work was too difficult. In fact, except for the time involved, it was a breeze. And it wasn’t an easy decision to walk away from it. I was inculcated by my Depression-era father, who wouldn’t have understood why I would forgo a well-paying position simply because I wanted to. It sort of rubs me the wrong way, too. All I can say is: it was time.
To those of you who haven’t reached the same point in life, it’s difficult to describe. It’s visceral. You just know when it’s time to pull chocks, when it’s time to start enjoying the fruits of nearly a half-century of labours. The Good Mrs. Benson was on board with my decision, and I am confident I made the right move.
In the four months since I became a man of leisure, everything seems to bear that out. The biggest fear for anyone who retires is income, but we’ve found no worries on that score. More importantly, my health has improved considerably. Part of it came from having the time undertake regular exercise, which has paid off considerably. My weight has dropped to the point where I weigh fifteen pounds less than when I left the Navy.
More critically, I took a step I’ve been putting off for years. You’ve heard me mention my arthritic knees. Well, the first thing I scheduled, in the first week of this year, was a total knee replacement for the worse of my two legs. Thanks to a good surgeon and throwing myself into physical rehab like a demon, I am now pain-free for the first time in a dozen years. (Well, almost — the right knee is starting to make a few noises, but nothing intolerable.) I’ve regained full range of motion and almost complete use of the surgical knee. For a man with seven decades under his belt, I feel like I was forty, again. (Still, I wouldn’t try to go twelve rounds with Joe Louis.)
And, of course, I now have plenty of time to do the thing I like doing most: writing. On the DC Comics Message Board, I regularly contribute to the DC Comics Time Capsule threads, which review DC’s publications fifty years ago from the given month. I am now four reviews ahead of schedule, just waiting for the pertinent months to catch up.
And then, first and foremost, is my Deck Log. I’ve already posted two, and I’ve been sitting here, working on the next one---which is what led to this overture.
You see, I was a third of the way through my current entry, when I remembered that one of my old, old entries had some information that would be useful. So I dug through my archives until I found it, in a column I had posted back in 2008. In re-reading it, I felt like a spinster going through her old diary; it was familiar, yet at the same time, fresh and informative. Too informative, because I discovered that the old article came pretty close to the one I was preparing, now. Near enough that I felt my current piece was virtually covering the same ground.
So, here’s what I’m going to do. I’m scrapping the work I have in progress, and I’ve started to research the next on my list of column ideas. In the meantime, because the 2008 entry is so old that you folks either haven’t read it or, if you have, don’t remember it, I’m going to run all three parts as “From the Archives” entries. After I polish them a bit and add the art.
I know it’s a bit of a cheat, and I apologise for that, but it will keep my Deck Log alive until I finish my new article. I think you’ll find the “re-runs” interesting enough — I certainly did, in re-reading them.
It feels good to be back at my keyboard, and I hope that you’ll continue to find my stuff worthy of your time and interest.
Replies
Best wishes and greatest congratulations that you can take advantage of modern medicine. I too have a lot of gratitude for modern technology, so I agree with you entirely. Good future fortune to you and GMB in your endeavors!
Sincerely,
Eric L. Sofer
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The Silver Age FOgey
Friends of mine (older and younger) who have had knee replacements have all had good outcomes, especially those who had them in recent times. This area is one that keeps improving by leaps and bounds.
So far, the penalties for living into my mid-seventies haven’t included knee problems. Like you, I have had cataract lens replacement in both eyes. I now only need reading glasses for the tiniest print, and often leave home forgetting to take them. Since this procedure was used by friends years ago it has been simplified significantly.
I did have an enlarged (non-cancerous) prostate that was creating problems. Rather than cutting or burning tissue, I chose the Urolift procedure and have not regretted it.
I too am glad to hear you are enjoying your retirement, Commander. And you've seen improved health, that is always good news. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us!
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