Today I put the finishing touches on the book I ghostwrote for a client–including the back cover sales copy. So that one is put to bed as far as my efforts go. The copyright holder will create the cover (or have one created), format it for publication, get the ISBN number, and so forth.  I may be involved in getting the word out about it–perhaps a PR–but, other than that, I think I’m about finished.

It turned out very well. The client is delighted and I’d put my own name on it, so you know I gave it my best shot.  I hope it does what the client wants it to do for its target audience. If it does, it will change countless lives for the better, and perhaps even the mindset of overlords and world leaders over time…and that’s pretty stinkin’ awesome, if you ask me!

I fetched a dog from a groomer for an elderly friend and then visited with her for an hour. It breaks my heart to see how lonely she is and how she lights up after just a few minutes of interaction. She starts out stumbling over sentences and having trouble gathering her thoughts, but it doesn’t take long for her to find everything that’s needed to carry on a great conversation with gusto. I feel guilty leaving her when I have to go because her face kind of caves so I try to schedule the next visit right then and there so she has something to look forward to.

Her son and daughters live next to her in their own homes but they’re all working folks, too, and have their own spouses, kids, grand kids, and lives to come home to, so they can’t always meet her emotional/relational needs. It’s just very sad. It takes a village to raise a child and to meet the emotional needs of the elderly, that’s for sure! I wish I could be there more often for her; so do her kids, I’m sure. We all do what we can…

What else?  Busy day just ahead: Biking in Orting, network meeting mid-day or thereabout; and a potluck/poetry gathering later on. I expect I’ll be putting in an 14 to 15-hour day tomorrow; for a 64-year-old, that’s a lot! I’ll try to can catch a nap mid-afternoon…

Heard from a client from two years ago. He’s adding a new website and wants me to write the copy for it.  This kind of thing happens frequently enough to keep me smiling without overwhelming me with “too much to do”. I love being semi-retired. Rarely do I have to look for work anymore; enough comes in from repeat clients and outsourcing sites that I stay busy enough without needing to do as much lead generation and pipeline-filling as I had to do before. It’s a lot more relaxing to work this way. I know my mortgage and other monthly bills will be paid by my Social Security income and my additional needs can be met by the incidental work I pick up.

This is a very good feeling in this all-too-unsettled world. For eight years I stressed out mightily every month: “Will I make enough to make ends meet?” (I didn’t always, so I had to use my credit card sometimes.) Now I’m paying off the card (balance will be zero in under six months) and will be able to manage without it.  That’s a VERY good feeling. After that, I’ll pay off the home equity line of credit (about $7K) at a faster rate than I am right now. When that’s gone, all I’ll have is a mortgage payment ($500/month for about six more years), food, gas, utilities, pet food, health care insurance, and other occasional, miscellaneous expenses. (I’m healthy so far so; my only medicine is for thyroid, at $14.00 for a three month supply.)

It’s exciting to visualize debt-free living. It’ll happen before I reach seventy, with any luck at all. Then my sis and I can contemplate roof repairs, house-painting, and a little bit of remodeling on my side of the abode. I need new counter tops in the worst way and would love a new kitchen floor and new carpet in the living room and bedroom…

My dreams are small. If I’d been paid what a man was paid for doing the same kind of work all these years, I’d be much better off financially and getting larger monthly Social Security check.  Knowing this sucks, but it is what it is. Unfair. I wish we could fix this discrepancy retroactively.  I’d be one happy camper–as would millions of other hard-working women.