Hard To Be an Expat, So Far Away at Christmas

Gracie -- my five-year-old smiling granddaughter

Excuse me, but I’m a little down. I miss my son and granddaughter.  And my mother.

Spending Christmas far away wasn’t easy, even if we did have a lovely dinner with new friends.

The good part was seeing my little Gracie’s three-story dollhouse via Skype. She showed us every floor at various angles before we said goodbye to her upside down smiling face. I could see inside her nostrils, I told her. She giggled and the conversation ended.

Then I spoke to my 96-year-old mother on the phone as a friend was helping her install a new computer.

“I’ll message you on facebook,” she promised before our talk was over.

I grew up with my mother’s stories of our pioneer relatives who moved from the Carolinas to Oregon in the U.S.

“Think of how strong they were to start a new life,” she would tell me.

Now I see what she meant.
*****

P.S. I miss my sisters, too!

Never Too Late To Learn a Lesson or Two

I met a French couple who’d been camping in southern Chile.

“Español?”

“Si,” he smiled.

We talked as my new friends shared their Patagonian photos of diving whales and ice-blue glaciers.

My high school Spanish teacher would be proud. I was USING what he had taught. I can close my eyes and see him. Moderate height, slim with coal black hair and a warm face.

“Speak from the front of your mouth. Blow air across your lips. Make a sound like this,” he’d demonstrate. He’d fold a sheet of paper into a fan, then jot down verb endings on each pleat. “Here’s a quick way to memorize conjugations.”

Mr. Mariani’s encouragement and patience worked well with high school students, but I remember it even now, as I use the language he taught me to love.

It’s never too late to practice what we began learning long ago.

***

Are you struggling to learn something new? Your thoughts?

Learning to use Chopsticks takes patience, and so does adjusting to a new culture, author says

Many from other countrie are surprised at the political marches that occur regularly in Ecuador. My opinion: We need to learn more about this active and successful process!

A COUPLE OF NEW FRIENDS are not making it here in Cuenca, Ecuador—at least so far. I like them and find they are interesting and fun. But I don’t think they’ve lived much in other cultures. I gauge this on their reactions to their new surroundings In their eyes, nothing seems to be going right since they have arrive.

Nobody said it was easy!

The electricity was off when "John and Karen" got to their new apartment late at night from the Guayaquil airport. Instead of going to bed and trying to solve it in the morning (after the person on duty couldn’t fix it) they went to an expensive hotel. When they returned the next day and learned the power switch in the basement was off, and just needed to be flipped on, they got mad and decided the apartment owner should pay for their night at the Ritz.

That reaction might work in the U.S. but it doesn’t work here. Things are not so sophisticated. This is a developing country and the trains don’t always run on time!

A trip to the grocery again made them angry when they were asked for a passport. “People were following me,” my friend stated, as he wondered why he had to show credentials to buy a loaf of bread.

“That’s just how it is done here,” I explained. “I don’t make the rules.”

And neither do any visitors. When we travel outside of our country and culture, we must accept that the values, social norms, and traditions in the U.S. may be very different from beliefs about "how things should be" in the country where we grew up.

As I sit here typing, I am personally angry over a small occurrence of health insurance fraud on a policy that I signed up for here. But I have to ask myself, how well did I check out the company? The broker? Did I let myself get Gringo’ed?

Further, I can’t get the public Internet company to commit to come to my apartment and install a new system. I am working from my bedroom where I can intercept reception from next door—while I am trying to market a new book, using twitter and facebook! What a pain.

I am not used to doing some of the footwork required to live here, and I realize this. I am not used to non-customer-driven-non-service! Becoming angry, however, just doesn’t work in this culture. Patience is sometimes rewarded. There also are some legal remedies to invoke, if necessary (but sometimes with unexpected consequence). Often, I forget my own advice when difficulties arise.

But if I am thinking straight, I find it works best to cut the losses and start over when up against a difficult hurdle, such as the problems with health insurance or Internet that I’ve encountered. It is at times like this I miss my home country.

When individuals move to another culture, they naturally carry their own background and life experiences with them, and these shape how they react and adjust to their new environment. For example, some will find a new culture (how people do things) easy to adjust to, while others may struggle significantly (like my two friends). "Culture shock" is a common experience that describes the feelings of confusion, stress and disorientation that occur when entering an unfamiliar culture. Of course, not everyone has the same reactions to cultural adjustment and may experience the symptoms of culture shock in varying degrees, and at different times.

Professionals who study this adjustment period say that common reactions include:

• extreme homesickness
• avoiding social situations
• physical complaints and sleep difficulties
• inability to concentrate
• becoming angry over minor irritations
• significant nervousness or exhaustion

Here are some things to know that might help

• Everything is relative to culture.
  For example people from different cultures may see how Americans behave as different and as “bad”. For some, the American communication style may seem too loud or direct. Take a lesson, and try to avoid labeling what others do as "good" or "bad" according to the culture you are from. Remember that there may be parts of a culture you dislike, but these are part of a broader social system, and make more sense inside that system.
• Be curious and open-minded.
  Adjusting to a new culture does not mean that you have to change your own beliefs or values, but it is important to respect those of other people. When you find yourself in an unfamiliar situation, try to think of it as a new adventure. See this experience as a new game, and be curious about the way things are perceived and done in this new place.
• Use your observation skills.
  Since you will run into new ways of doing things (rules and norms), observing how others behave can help you understand what is expected of you. It’s like watching someone use chopsticks before trying it out for for yourself! Pay close attention to both the verbal and nonverbal communication of others to get a better picture of what is going on.
• Ask questions 
  Ask for help when you need it. This is not a sign of weakness. In Cuenca, the moment a person asks for help in speaking Spanish, nearly every Cuencano reaches out in support. Understanding others and making yourself understood in a new language requires lots of rephrasing, repeating and clarification. It may be helpful to ask questions like "I believe you are saying... Is that correct?" Talk slowly and use hand gestures. In Latino culture, I find myself adding apologies more frequently. “Excuse me. Will you please speak more slowly?” (Disculpe. Por favor. Hable mas despacio.)
• It's ok to experience anxiety 
  Learning to function in a new environment is not easy. It is natural to feel anxious or frustrated sometimes. The key is to remind yourself that these feelings are normal and are likely to be situational and temporary.
• Know it’s okay to make mistakes
  Anyone will make mistakes while exploring a new environment. Look for the humor and be ready to laugh, while keeping in mind that others will probably make mistakes, too. If someone makes an absurd statement about your culture, it may be due to a lack of information. Use this as an opportunity to share information with others about yourself and your culture.
• Take care of your physical and mental health
  Be mindful about keeping a healthy diet and getting enough exercise and rest. Try to find an activity that you enjoy and make it part of your routine. Being physically active can help reduce your stress level, but if this doesn’t work seek help. Look for an AA, in you’re having alcohol problems for instance, or for depression and other problems seek a therapist who knows your culture (if talking to a friend does not help).
• Be patient - don't try to understand everything immediately
  It takes time to adjust to a new and different culture. Be patient with this experience and do not be overly critical of yourself or the people around you.

I hope my new friends start to adjust. And I hope to hell that the Internet company comes through and that the Insurance company pays its bills! Meanwhile, I have some good ideas for a backup!

Walk Through the Central Park in Cuenca, Ecuador and You Might Hear Pan Flutes and Guitars

What a nice day for retirement expatting. We enjoyed some great music in the Central Park. It was quite a surprise as we walked downtown to hear the pan flutes, drums and guitars playing. A special Andean musical group had come out to sing and play.

The sun was out, beautiful white clouds were overhead, and we really had fun watching locals and tourists come together to enjoy this wonderful music. Some bravely danced as the music played!

I had to shoot my video from behind the band, since I'm too short to shoot over the crowds. But here they are, playing some great music. Looked this music up in Wikipedia and learned --

Andean music comes from the general area inhabited by Quechuas, Aymaras and other peoples who lived roughly in the area of the Inca Empire prior to European contact. It includes folklore music of parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. 
Andean music is popular to different degrees across Latin America, having its core public in rural areas and among indigenous populations. The Nueva Canción movement of the 70s revived the genre across Latin America and brought it to places where it was unknown or forgotten.

All that I know, is that I love the sound. It's fun to listen to the musicians. One day not so long ago, Fred and I took a bus ride into the Andes and stopped in Seraguro, where we listened to a group of flute players entertain the local crowd. It was amazing,
-----

With the notable exception of the Otavalan craftspeople and merchants of northern Ecuador, no other indigenous Ecuadorian community has maintained its ethnic identity like the Saraguros.
Centered around the town of Saraguro, 80 miles south of Cuenca, the Saraguro nation, which numbers between 25,000 and 30,000, has maintained an enduring presence in the rural areas of the southern Ecuadorian provinces of Loja, Azuay and Zamora Chinchipe; some say it dates back 500 years, others say for much longer.
Although they have established a strong crafts tradition, the Saraguros are best known to the outside world for their distinctive appearance. They dress in black, women in home-woven pleated skirts, men in knee-length trousers. Both wear matching ponchos, often with shawls with orange and red accents, and white felt hats. Both men and women keep their hair in a long, single braid.

-----

By the way, the book cover was shot in Seraguro. I fell in love with this public painting on a wall near the bus depot!

THE PLAN

Just another fun day of retirement!

Here is my good news: the book is at the formatters and I'm due to have it in my hands tomorrow. Then I'll need a day to do some more quick work and it should be up at Smashwords by the weekend.

I hope to have it in readers' hands by Sunday! Wish me luck!

Susan

Found a great vet in Cuenca, Ecuador: will treat emergencies!

Dr. Javier Gallardo, Cuenca, Ecuador veterinarian

We had a vet emergency on a Sunday night. Tried calling every vet listed with 24 hour emergency designation and either they didn't answer, or would not come in.Then we found a phone number for  Dr. Gallardo. He said to come to his clinic, where he met us and treated our dog. He was wonderful! We will use him for both pets, and highly recommend.his services. He speaks very little English but uses a Spanish translator on his PC and this worked fine for us.

His phone number is 2816869 or 0987232618. He was featured in a news story at http://www.eltiempo.com.ec/noticias-cuenca/120811-veterinaria-gallardo-con-nuevo-local/

It's like this: I love my animals more than most people. It scared the heck out of me when my new, little rescue dog got so sick, and I couldn't help her. Cheryl ate something BAD on the street and started getting very ill, late at night. So I was so thankful to find this nice vet!

Want to be a part of self-publishing? Even if you don't write? Try some some Fan Fiction!

Fan Fiction -- fun to do. Keeps boredome away!

I just learned about this, and it sounds pretty cool.A way to earn some income in publishing, even if you don't write. I can imagine someone enjoying this if they like to read and spend their time hunting down good books.

AMAZON LAUNCHES ITS KINDLE WORLDS STORE AND SELF-SERVICE PUBLISHING
PLATFORM FOR FAN FICTION WRITERS

The model allows any budding writer to submit and publish original stories in the Kindle
Worlds Store based on the world or works of an existing media franchise. Amazon will
then pay royalties to both the creator of the fan fiction and the original right’s holder;
the standard author’s rate for fiction that is at least 10,000 words in length is 35 percent.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1001197421

Fan fiction (alternatively referred to as fan-fiction, fanfiction, fanfic, fanon, FF, or
simply fic) is a broadly-defined fan labor term for stories about characters or settings
written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_fiction

Here's what a few of our authors had to say about Kindle Worlds: 

"This was downright fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, take-chances, go-places-you've-never-been fun. It reminded me of being a kid: reading comics and just living in a completely different reality for a while. Archer & Armstrong are great characters, worlds away from what I usually write. I felt I could take chances, do things differently, and simply have a good time going where the story took me." —Carolyn Nash, writing in Archer & Armstrong

"I love challenges that can take my writing in new directions, and it was blast to write a story set in the Valiant universe, with themes and characters that don't normally appear in my writing. I also enjoyed writing from the point of view of a teen and preteen character." —Jason Starr, writing in Harbinger

"This writing style is something I've been doing for years, though the world is very different with the ghosts and the powers. I just dug in and—hopefully—did some of the writing I do best. I know I had a good time." —Mel Odom, writing in Shadowman and The Foreworld Saga

Cuenca, Ecuador Writers In Transition Gets Set ForThursday, July 4 Monthly Reading; Free and Open to the Public

Tom, attending a meeting of Cuenca's Writers In Transition, or WIT,  listens to feedback on his presentation. The group presents public readings  at  p.m.Thursday, July 4, at the Calif. Kitchen Restaurant. Open to the Pubic and Free.

This Thursday, on the 4th of July, Cuenca writers are getting together to read from our current works. We're all retired expats -- this is what we do with a good share of our time -- and it's a lot of fun.

If it were not for this group, I know that I wouldn't be able to write The Plan. It's the most difficult book that I've ever written, because it is fiction. And I am used to writing news stories and nonfiction books.

But the challenge has been so good for me, and I encourage other retirees to think about writing -- a poem, a short story, a diary, letters to your children of grandchildren. It is just a wonderful, creative way to spend your time.

I am impressed that we have just as many men in our group (well, almost) as women. It is hard for guys to retire  I'm going to make this generalization  (and I guess that I apologize), but from my observations, men often have a harder time finding good stuff to do when they retire. But these men who regularly attend WIT meet with the group almost every week, and they are accomplished writers.

If you are a writer, or a wannabe writer, and live in Cuenca, Ecuador, please attend our weekly meeting at 12:30 p.m. each Thursday at the California Kitchen. We usually have lunch, but you can come and have a cup of coffee or tea with us. We won't "make" you read. Just come and listen and see how the group functions.

Meanwhile, I hope to see lots of people come to our monthly reading this Thursday. We decided to go ahead and do our regular thing, even though it is the 4th of July. The group  may be smaller, but we know it will be fun, especially if YOU'RE there. Susan

Here's your invitation:

Writers in Transition (WIT)

presents

An Evening of the Spoken Word

California Kitchen Restaurant

Luis Cordero 5-65 y Honorato Vasquez

4th July 2013 . Thursday . 7pm

Free Admission . Cash Bar

Authors

"Masada"

by Anne Carr

A story of love and expecting the unexpected.

"A Fish Tale"

by Suzanne Freddie

This is a short short story inspired by a Greek Myth: Bauccis and Philemon from Ovid.

"Bridge... Slightly Revised"

by Manon Stephenson

A small group lightens up a serious game.

"The Writer", Chapter 32 of The Plan

by Susan Kopfler

Lawyer Clinton Moore arrives in Ecuador; he visits the Cuenca Jazz Club and meets a journalist who will help him find his dead lover's wife!

"Noah's Ark"

by Frances Augusta Hogg

Who would say no to the gift of a wombat?

How a Holistic Life Helps Retirees Keep Healthy

Come on. Were you REALLY looking for THE fountain of youth when you retired? If so, you may have to give up on that search. It ainta gonna happen! We all live. We grow older and then we move on to another plane. (Some people call this death.) But we don’t magically get physically younger as we retire. Hopefully, we age gracefully, stay healthy and have a good time doing this in retirement years.

There’s no magic pill required to create what still can be a vibrant present and an active retirement. This opinion is shared by many, including Peter Spiers who’s written a new book called "Master Class: Living Longer, Stronger, And Happier.” There are 40 million Americans 65 and older today, and by 2050 that number is expected to double to 80 million. Now, that's a lot of human potential that can be either wasted or realized, this author tells us.

What will you do with your retirement?  Often, I blog about my activities while learning some ways other men and women get insight on how to make the most of this “new life stage in which work has ceased to be the central focus of their lives” (Spiers’s definition of retirement).

One person recently commented on my retirement blog she was so busy, she “needed to retire from retirement!'" Does this describe you?

People who are engaged in activities that involve at least two dimensions of socializing, moving, thinking and creating, Spiers calls “Masters.”  These are key elements of a holistic way of life that will bring happiness, optimism and physical and cognitive health, he writes.

I'm 65, but I'm thinking about things I can do now to set myself up for a successful retirement. I once wrote for newspapers and worked for a publishing company, and now I am writing books and blogging even more.

What did you used to do that you would now like to further develop? This may be a helpful way to discover the activities that bring about the desired state for retirement that Spiers mentions in his book. I’ve noticed that people who comment and write for my blog also describe their successes following this road map. It certainly works for me, and I will guess this approach works (or could work) for you!

Many of the 14 activities listed in Spier’s "Master Class" -- like gardening and birding – may seem like familiar and already explored territory. But what's wrong with learning from the past? "Boomers will no doubt put their own stamp on this stage as they have with every other stage, but why embark on a trip without a map?" Spiers recently said, in an interview with The Huffington Post.

Just because the 14 activities he’s come up with look easy doesn't mean they are. They all require some energy and will power. The concepts are easy, but realizing and living them does take attention and a concerted effort.

"It requires some energy and willpower on your part. The concepts are easy but realizing, living the concepts does take some attention," he told the interviewer.

Most of his suggestions don’t surprise me: genealogy, cultural immersion travel, exercise, group bicycling, book clubs, volunteering, dancing, and gardening – I’m sure you can do even better coming up with your own ideas, and want to hear your suggestions on my blog.

Have a comment? Please share it here.

Mmeanwhile, think holistic retirement – and forget anything about trying to find that brick and mortar fountain of youth. What we must all discover is the fountain within ourselves, ready to be turned on for this new and unique time of our lives.

Expat Author Chris Petersen's Book Delivers! (How to get a FREE copy)

Author Chris Petersen

What do you do when you retire? Sit around and get bored? Or write a book that keeps people up all night reading?

Ecuador expat Chris Petersen chose the latter. He sits across the table from me at our Cuenca writers group (Writers In Transition or WIT) and each week shares a chapter of his newest book. He clearly enjoys using his retirement time in this way, and has discovered talents that maybe he didn’t know were there. Now he's doing something creative: giving away free copies to share his work with readers around the world.

I’ve been working on my own book, and have to admit I didn’t have the time to read Chris’s current book. But finally I did, and then couldn’t put it down. Here’s my quick review of Methuselah’s Secret:


I was locked in the moment I began reading Methuselah's Secret. Chris Petersen’s novel is filled with believable characters that come to life. It’s well-paced and intriguing. Franklin Stone is a person we all know, with his perfect marriage and thriving business.

Then a friend approaches him with a secret that changes his life, and the suspense begins. The author cleverly draws each scene while the dialog has an authentic cadence that makes it convincing and real. The book flows well, and I couldn't put it down. Now I'm waiting for this author's next work. Highly recommend for anyone who appreciates a good read. FIVE STARS.

Take a look at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/252087 then pick up your free copy and see what you think!

What will you do when you finally don’t have to set an alarm clock and jump out of bed each morning to go to work? You might want to consider working at becoming a writer. It works for Chris! Or... you might want to start reading all of those great books you've never had the time to pick up. Here's a good place to start.

P.S. This book also is listed on Amazon, where it is only .99 cents for download. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Methuselahs-Secret-ebook/dp/B00AIRQ234/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Women making Panama Hats by hand in Sigsig, Ecuador

Just finishing some research on Sigsig for my novel, The Plan (due out next month) and I wanted to share this video of women hand weaving Panama hats up in the Andes, in this remote villate.

I got a hat there, myself, when I traveled thee last month. Unbelieveable! It was just $10.

Anyway, a big chase scene takes place here, when the widow of a murdered black lawyer from Alabama hides out, while her friend goes to Guayaquil to purchase plane tickets to go back to the U..S. The bad guy learns she's in Sigsig, with a friend, Colon, and he sets out to find her, and ends of chasing her and Colon back to Cuenca!

Enjoy the weaving -- Sigsig is a beautiful journey from here, about 90 minutes by public bus. There's an unbelievable hostel there on the mountain side with swimming pools. Great place to knock off a Sunday afternoon. Susan

Wake up! The Cat's Got Your Teeth!

OH, I had to share just one. My mom sent me this!

The Cajas, outside of Cuenca, taken on an afternoon walk last Sunday.

Just got back from applying for (and receiving) my special bus fare ticket. Now I can ride for 12 cents! In Ecuador, once you're 65, you get half price off public transportation.  What a great deal. We walked over to a cute restaurant afterwards and had cafe con leche and pan (a roll) in a place next to the ferria libre market. It was decorated with rope nets. Looked liked something you'd see in the Oriente (the Amazon region).

As aways, we ran into someone we know (from Nashville) and enjoyed talking for a while. She'd been to Villcabamba, a place I've  been wanting to visit. It's in a big rich valley with a winding river about four hours south of Cuenca. Wouldn't want to live there. It's too isolated and too many rich Gringos. But it's supposed to be fun. I've been told there's someone who can represent each conspiracy theory, and that sounds great. Some bar, called Charlies, is supposed to be a good hangout, and I hear there are several great b and b's.

But I must get back to writing. We've had no news on our lost dog,Ralph, and I'm pretty sick about it. We do have a new "girl" we're calling Cheryl. Someone called and said they might hd possibly found Ralph, but it was Cheryl who was homeless. We've tried to find her owners but no one is responding, so I guess she's now ours. She likes people and is sweet. Looks like some sort of a poodle mix.

I have five more chapters to write on The Plan -- I'm giving myself the rest of the week. This is exciting. Would love to hear any comments. Susan

Pinterest a Great Tool For Online Businesses; Retirees Should Check It Out

Have you changed? This is one of my favorite photograph taken at a celebration in the Mississippi Delta where lots of change is taking place, and I'm sharing it on PINTEREST right now! You don't know what Pinterest is? Well, especially if you are retired, this could be a very fascinating place on the Interenet to visit.

Have you checked out Pinterest? Here's my Pinterest page: http://pinterest.com/sklopfer542/pins/

It's lots of fun just to visit and see what's been pinned. It's also important to know about Pinterest if you are setting up a small business of some kind in your retirement. In a nutshell, Pinterest is a tool for collecting and  organizing things you love. To join, go here to sign up (it's free) and learn more  -- http://about.pinterest.com/

I use Pinterest to set up various "boards" from Retirement to Animals and Civil Rights. Pinterest is a pinboard-style photo-sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, and hobbies.

Users can browse other pinboards for images, 're-pin' images to their own pinboards, or 'like' photos. The site was founded by Ben Silbermann,

Paul Sciarra and Evan Sharp, the site is managed by Cold Brew Labs and funded by a small group of entrepreneurs and inventors.

Another way to learn is to go to http://pinterest.com and take a look. I think you will become addicted! Please share your experiences.

Have fun! Thanks, Susan

Help Find My Dog, Please

Our little Shih Tsu Ralph is missing. Coffee and cream color, in the vicinity of Puertas del Sol, near the river. Please call if you see him or are approached by a person trying to sell him. $100 reward. No questions asked.

Contact Susan at 099-425-3998.

Looking for blog writers: Expat? New Role in Life? Write For This Blog!

Bluesmen from the Mississippi Delta tell their story with song.

Something interesting happens to many expats when they first move abroad. It causes them to see themselves differently - not just in terms of language and culture - but physically as well. 

If this describes you, please consider writing a blog post on this site. Let me have your information in the comments section. This could be your new opportunity to soar!

Thanks,

Susan Klopfer
Author, The Plan

What Retirees Do -- in Cuenca, Ecuador

Living in such a beautiful environment, how could you NOT write about it??? Since we moved here last fall, one thing that keeps me busy is writing. I belong to a local group -- Writers in Transition, and we meet every Thursday at 12:30 to share our chapters, short stories, poems. and other written work. We listen to each other and offer criticism (help). Then, on the first Thursday of each month, we give a public reading. People in Cuenca are invited to come have dinner and listen. It's a great opportunity to get  important feedback on our work  Guess what -- you're invited!!

The WIT Group

(Writers in Transition)

presents

An Evening of the Spoken Word

at California Kitchen Restaurante

Luis Cordero 5-65 y Honorato Vasquez

4 April 2013, Thursday, 7pm

Free Admission ~ Cash Bar

Authors

1) "South American Time and Customer Service", by Susan Schenck, author of Beyond Broccoli and The Live Food Factor

Susan will be reading excerpts from her upcoming book Expats in Cuenca: The Magic and The Madness

2) "He's Alive" from Chapter Six of "Methuselah's Promise", by Chris Petersen, author of Methuselah's Secret

The next chapter of my new book about the Longevity Drug

3) "Red Creeper", by Frances Augusta Hogg

A writer learns the importance of being vigilant. 

4) "Life and Death on the Mississippi" First Chapter from the novel The Plan, by Susan Klopfer

This first chapter of my historical fiction novel is set in the Mississippi Delta. Two black lawyers and a white detective (former FBI agent) are separately murdered between the years of 1966 and 1997. Chapter 1 opens with the final murder of Clinton Moore, a 56-year-old lawyer. Two shooters are involved: the first is a young man who Moore has known and defended twice for driving while intoxicated. The second shooter, whose bullet takes Moore’s life, is a professional hit man. Moore tells his story from the grave, and in this first chapter he presents various conflicts that tie all three murders into a mystery waiting to be solved.

5) "Picking Cotton", by Manon Stephenson

It is Manon's continuing saga of her youth and the humorous adventures of her alter ego. 

If you're a writer, you might also want to join us on Thursdays at the California Kitchen. You're invited! Drop by for this Thursday night's reading to learn more.

Susan

Same Ol' Same Ol'?? -- New Retiree Writes About His Life

(at left) -- Forever together ... a man and his dog

by Thomas Peddecord

Cuenca, Ecuador

Here we go again. Same old thing. Up at nine (regardless of how late our restaurant, PANACHE!, was open for service the previous night). Then it’s out the door for a walk around the neighborhood. Maybe the beach is a possibility this morning?  No, no such luck! Rain is coming. Better to return to the restaurant before we get drenched.  

Upon our return home it’s into the Subaru, turn on the ignition, and begin another edition of our daily rounds.  Stops at the grocery store, produce stand, and  Asian market are all on the “to do” list everyday. A double- check of the grocery list is in order to make sure nothing has been forgotten is in order.

CLICK TO CONTINUE ...

If luck is with us and and time allows a stop at Quizno’s for a sandwich is the next order of business.  I really love the Cubano sandwich! Not too spicy and full of flavor. Maybe a sandwich for Linda?...  

I really enjoy the solitude in the Subaru at times like these. Listening to “Fresh Air” on NPR, sharing a delicious sandwich, temporarily insulated from all the craziness of the restaurant (and life in general), and finding time to think about something other than the monotonous tedium that pervades our apartment, our restaurant and our lives.  O.K.  All good things must come to an end. 

Turn on the ignition and head back to PANACHE!  Time to unload the groceries, stock the shelves, the refrigerators, and the freezer.  Check the prep list for dinner service.  Turn on the soup warmers and head upstairs to check on Linda.  She’s fine.  (Catching a few extra winks this morning because she got upstairs really late last night.  That last customer didn’t leave until 1AM!)  Once in the office a check for e-mail and phone messages while being mostly concerned with messages from folks wishing to dine with us tonight.  People seem to think it’s perfectly fine to wait until the “day of...” to make reservations for dinner whether the table is for 2 or twenty. (I never will understand that attitude).  

If the prep list isn’t too long and the first reservation isn’t coming in too, too early we may have time to relax and watch a few minutes of the Anderson Cooper Show.  I wonder what issue Anderson and his guests will be discussing today?  Gun control, rising incidence of obesity in non-white train conductors, animal cruelty, or the perplexing popularity of the Kardashian litter...  

No matter because today the demands of the restaurant require our immediate attention downstairs to begin preparations for dinner service. Somedays I get a chance for a nap before dinner and somedays not.  Unfortunately this is not one of those days.  Juan, Little Juan and Greg will all be in to help in the kitchen tonight!  What a relief!  Maybe we can leave the after service clean-up to the crew so that our walk can begin a little early and end a little later. Our time together at night is much anticipated and greatly valued.  Solitude, companionship, moments to think about “stuff”.  

Particularly so lately since it has been decided that I am going to be moving to Mom’s ex-husband’s 150 acre farm in rural Missouri.  I can’t wait!  No more short walks around the neighborhood, no more grocery buying excursions every morning of everyday of every week, and no more wondering if the nightly walk will be a short one or a long one. 

Don’t get me wrong!  I love Dad and Mom to death but the life we have all been  living for the past eight years since the opening of PANACHE! cannot be considered “living” by any stretch of the imagination.  I am deeply sorry that we are going to have to spend the rest of our lives in different parts of the world but retirement, hopefully, comes for us all. 

I will be living on a 150 acre parcel in the middle of the country chasing horses and rabbits, sticking my nose in the babbling creek behind the house, sleeping on a homemade quilt in front of the fireplace and riding in to town with Don (Mom’s ex) in his old Ford pick-up. Dad and Mom will be living their dream in Cuenca, Ecuador.  

Someone once said, “Never underestimate the capacity of the human heart for love.”  The same can be said of the canine heart.  I know I will forever live in their hearts and, believe me when I tell you, they will forever live in mine.   

*****

(Tom gives permission to reprint this article, as long as you include his bio and don't change the content. He may be reached at cheftomp.peddecord1@gmail.com )         

Editor's Note: This IS the place for publishing your retirement stories! Author Thomas Peddecord, was born in Wichita, Kansas. He and his wife Linda have lived in California and Oregon. Mr. Peddecord is a 1998 graduate of Western Culinary Institute Cordon Bleu in Portland, Oregon. After working in the food industry for a number of years Tom, Linda, and their dog Ginger, opened their own restaurant in Newport Oregon in 2005. 

PANACHE! was a fine dining white tablecloth restaurant that specialized in menu items which utilized fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, wild seafood, and chemical and hormone-free beef, lamb and pork. After enjoying great success for a number of years PANACHE! was sold in 2012. The author and his wife moved to Cuenca, Ecuador shortly thereafter and have been enjoying their lives in South America ever since.   

Have a retirement story? Send it to me -- Susan Klopfer -- sklopfer@gmail.com and see it in print. Please include your bio and a photo, if possible.