Today I'm a single digit midget

[pierinifitness]

Everyone who did military time knows the meaning of this term; today I'm one in my exit from the rat race.  I'll soon enter that time zone in perpetuity similar to how we felt in school long ago when summer arrived.  Some say I'll get bored. If I do, I'll go be a bagger at Trader Joe's.

pierini-fitness.blogspot.com/2009/04/single-digit-midget.html

[mrdave100]

Ed, I work in education and due to COVID, summer break, and now a medical leave, I’ve essentially been off work for 7 months and have just recently grown accustomed to being off work. You’ll adjust, your job now is to find new passions to fill your days.  Be strong my friend, weakness is not an option.

[stormshadow]

Sept 21, 2020 13:52:33 GMT pierinifitness said:

Everyone who did military time knows the meaning of this term; today I'm one in my exit from the rat race.  I'll soon enter that time zone in perpetuity similar to how we felt in school long ago when summer arrived.  Some say I'll get bored. If I do, I'll go be a bagger at Trader Joe's.

pierini-fitness.blogspot.com/2009/04/single-digit-midget.html

Congratulations Pierini. I remember a person told me that long time ago in the military and I responded I heard the ladies call you a single midget digit

[Bruce Tackett]

Sept 21, 2020 13:52:33 GMT pierinifitness said:

Everyone who did military time knows the meaning of this term; "Today I'm a single digit midget"

Never heard that when I was in. Maybe it's because I was in a different branch in the mid 60's. "Short" was the word back then, and any way you could shorten it, i.e., "I'm so short I have to stand on my tip toes to see over the bottoms of my feet." I remember that glorious day I could write on a head wall amongst all the other long-past inscriptions - "3 days left".

Back then it was illegal to wear blue jeans. I remember driving up to the gate for the last time wearing blue jeans where I was promptly stopped by a guard. I told him I was leaving for good. He considered that for a few seconds and then asked, "Are you coming back?" I was still laughing a half hour out the gate.

[pierinifitness]

[Bruce Tackett]

"Two Didgit Midget". Nope. never heard it. "Short Timer", yes, of course.

[Deuce Gunner]

I'm familiar with both terms from my U.S Navy service of 79-89 as well as two digit midget. That meant you had 99 days to 10 days to go. At 9 days you became single digit.

[jrmeatplow]

congrats! 2024 for me so I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[pierinifitness]

Thanks everyone.  I've been in my profession for 41 years and self-employed at it for 39 years.  That's a long time.  But, I now realize that I've been working for 50 years.  If I count some family cultural experiences as a youth picking tomatoes, even longer.  It does feel good to call it quits.  People in my profession who are self-employed keep at it, many until their 80's.  Some exit feet first.  So I'm sort of a young buck to exit at age 65.  Regardless, as a newly-crowned single digit midget, I'm living very surreal and joyful moments blessed that I've almost made it and can now relax and give my brain a well-deserved sabbatical.

[Bruce Tackett]

At almost 72, I continue in my "profession" - turning out Charles Atlases worldwide, one at a time, enriching peoples' lives.

[pierinifitness]

The countdown continues and I'm working with a very detailed to do list to make sure I get all the things done and all the goodbyes expressed before riding off into the sunset.  One item on my to do list is a haircut.  I've not had one since before this Coronavirus nonsense.  Don't know the exact date of my last one but perhaps around February.  Let's just say I'm looking rough around the edges.

But the good news is that in the area where my office is occupies a fairly good-sized community of homeless bums and vagrants known for their panhandling.  With my current look, I'm not being approached by the panhandlers asking me for spare change. And, to illustrate how my lack of a haircut is making me look, last week a homeless person did approach me, not panhandling me for money but giving me some assurance by saying, "Hey man, you're going to be OK, life will get better, trust me."

Wife has given me strong marching orders that I better not show up at our new home without a haircut or I'll be sleeping outdoors with the coyotes and jack rabbits.  

[gruntbrain]

Will your family recognize your upcoming, athletic looking shaved head look?

[pierinifitness]

Sept 24, 2020 14:34:10 GMT gruntbrain said:

Will your family recognize your upcoming, athletic looking shaved head look?

I don't have the head shape to sport a butch or shaved-head look.

My current appearance can best be described as Gruntbrain-like.

[gruntbrain]

Aging Neanderthals unite!

[billfish]

Short Timer !
I remember getting discharged at the Navy Yard in Long Beach, CA, my wife who was then my GF was waiting in the car for me in the parking lot
As i came out and was was walking out to the car the marine at the gate spotted my big "official records" envelope and asked me if was out.
With a big smile, i responded "Yes i am" ....he popped me a big salute and said "i have 30 days brother"
I hopped in the car and told my wife, "let's get the hell out of here before they change their minds"