A New Job?

In February, I turned 62, and my brother said I should retire.

 

I’ve been pretty much retired anyway for eleven years. I had to quit work early due to health issues. But God gave me the gift of landing in the writing world. I write some and I critique and edit, and I love it. That was all the job I needed.

 

Then in March, I was offered a job to grade manuscripts for people seeking to be certified braille transcribers.

 

I love braille. When I learned braille at age eleven, my world changed. I could read books to myself.

 

When I became a rehabilitation teacher, the most fun thing I did was teach braille. I believe learning to read braille goes a long way to helping people with visual impairments to gain literacy as well as confidence for work and life. And, as my friend Randy says, audio books are great, but when you read braille, you can hear the story in your own voice.

 

So, I took the job. It would be nice to have a little extra money.

 

It’s working itself into my routine now, but at first, it was a struggle. Housekeeping? Cooking? Just didn’t seem that important. I put writing on the back burner.

 

Doesn’t seem like it should be that hard a job. I’d been reading braille for a long time.

 

But, more so than editing, I have to be careful to pay attention to each character and letter for accuracy. I have to search manuals to find the exact rule to attach to my comments about errors.

 

And poor Murray. He better not talk to me when I’m focused, unless he just likes being screamed at.

 

Like I said—it’s working itself more into my routine now. And, I got my first paycheck. Always a plus.

 

But in my heart of hearts, I’m still a writer and editor.

 

I love editing and critiquing, being part of the writing world, the wonderful friendships I have from critique partners. Editing is so much fun, being a part of some really amazing story-tellers’ work. Writing is still the job that most makes me smile. A spark of an idea, working to find just the right words.

 

So, who’s getting old? Who can retire? I just need to find another chunk of hours to add to my day.