Retirement

Years ago retirement put its beckoning arms around me and in 1995 it became a reality. Not long after retiring, a close friend, a computer entrepreneur, volunteered to help me establish a webpage, something I thought was beyond my ability. I stumbled along, trying to learn the tricks of the trade and here I am, a couple decades later. A computer geek I am not. A learned typist I am not, although I do type with both hands and today's computers help me get by with their spell checkers and search mechanisms. This helped considerably after I donated most of my library to a couple of organizations that put them to use overseas where used books were welcomed.

More than once I've thought of retiring again, from the Internet, but here I am, pushing ninety with clumsy fingers, a tricky memory and woebegone legs thanks to modern medicine's agility in making me a cancer survivor. Besides, as a retired man of the cloth (some of you may not have known that),it has enabled me to extend my life's mission as a hobby no less. In so doing, I have often wondered who reads my efforts. Without a visible audience I keep on uploading. All effort and no recompense may seem ridiculous to some except for this writer.

True, some records are kept. Companies can keep track of how many hits and even which articles are read. Currently my pages go out on two Webpages and some are printed in a monthly newspaper. Ironically, some months viewers number more than when I had an audience. Some ask, Why bother but I respond Why not? I make believe I have an audience. I deal with every day affairs, headlines in the news, family matters, and yes, even moral and ethical issues. I try to reflect rather than grumble and evoke thought for contemplation.

All this is based on my 45-year career as college teacher, associate and senior pastor, chaplain, international pastor (Sweden and Mexico) and author (18 books). This diversity has awakened multiple interests which the Webpages reflect (danielseagren.weebly.com). In a way you might say has extended my career to 65 years. So now you know, even if you never inquired. One more thought: I have considered creating a blog (a log of thoughts and writing with opportunity for discussion) but have decided not to use that method now. Thanks for reading. Dan

Editor's Note: We are pleased that Dan has shared many of his reflections with SeniorLifestyle, where there appear here, in the Senior Moments section.