In Loving Memory of Barbara Harris

I met Barbara Harris about 3 years ago in Las Vegas.  A wonderful caring woman that was a home economist, wife and loving mother.  Barbara passed away 2 days ago, alone, with no family nearby.  But she did have hundreds of friends in Las Vegas.  We met at meet-ups (you can find them on Yahoo) and Barbara poured every waking minute of her life into these meet-ups.  If she could go to 9 functions in a day, she would. 

 

Barbara was diagnosed with Liver Cancer,  4 years ago.  Against her doctor's wishes, she chose a homeopathic doctor to help her with her condition.  After 1 year, she was finally able to leave her home, not cancer free, but pretty darn close to it.  After a year the liver cancer came back, then breast cancer and then rectal cancer.  She had to go to the hospital every so often, to have the bile in her liver removed, but then she would be out playing cards. playing bunco, dining with friends and "flipping houses".  She was not going to let a minute of her life pass her by.  She was an amazing woman.

 

Barbara as a home economist wrote a book "How To Microwave" in the late 70's.  This is when microwaves were brand new in the US and the only other books available were translated from Japanese to English and not always easy to use.  In the 70's, in order to be eligible for the New York Times Bestseller List, you had to sell a minimum of 35,000 copies.  From 1976 to the mid-80's, Barbara's book sold over 750,000.  During her time in the sun, she was treated as one of the famous cookbook chefs.

 

I will miss my friend, as so many others will as well.

My Upcoming Retirement

I can write this journal, because no will probaly ever look at it.  A satisying way to tell your life as a ghost.

Today's topic is on my upcoming retirement.  If I wait till I'm 66, it will be in 9 years, if I wait till I'm 62, it will be in 3 years.  Yes, I am 59 years old/young.  You know there are young 70 years old out there and there are "old" 70 years out there.  I am still young enough in spirit, but not in age. And those wrinkles and skin tags are a whole other topic.

The other day, I looked at my retirement picture and it is sad.  My own fault really.  I depended on a pension earned by a company that is no longer operated-Pan Am World Airways.  I can start collectng my pension this year, I have to get the final evaluation (check's in the mail), but it looks lik $200 a month.  I'm doing well, I have heard some retired United people are getting a chceck for $.99 each month.

I participated in my 401k's with the minimum 3%.  I have upgraded that to 9% now, with matching contributions from my current employers (one of those airlines in the US).  Now is the time to catch up, at least a little bit. 

I don't own a home, I have never wanted a firm committment to any property.  I still lease, it is a beautiful condo.  Though not big enough.

And now the arthritis is settling in my hands.  It's getting harder and harder to do my job as a flight attendant.  Grasping a can sometimes is difficult. 

All of a sudden, my retirement is looming in front of me and I have to figure out what to do. Can I last at least another 3 years in my current profession.?

More to come.

Valerie Brown

Please ignore any mis-spellings, this program doesn't have a spell-check with it.