In 2019, my husband and I retired from our work as psychotherapists and moved from California to Oregon. Our new adventure finds us in a rural area outside of Portland. The change has been good for both of us.
Life has certainly brought with it profound joy and sorrow. Perhaps that's the way most lives go. I raised my children in a coastal town in Southern California, where we were surrounded by extended family and close friends.
In 2003, my daughter, Rebecca, died at the hands of a drunk driver. She was only twenty-two. I found strength and comfort in family. Many incredible people helped me survive this profound loss. My son and his wife are now both rabbis living Washington D.C. with their two young children. Becoming a grandmother is an incredible joy, and I tell anyone willing to listen how happy I am to have these amazing little girls in my life.
Retirement has brought with it many blessings: new adventures, new friends to add to the old ones, and more time to pursue passions of writing, painting, and gardening.