Greetings from the Worldwide Headquarters of Joe from the South. A/K/A my tiny office overlooking my back garden and goldfish pond. As I sit here contemplating life and all the changes that have happened these past months, I feel I need to offer you an apology. I’ve been more than a little distracted these past months. I haven’t given you, and really me, the time and emotional investment we deserved. It’s been a wonderfully chaotic, and somewhat bumpy ride for me this year. Since we last chatted, I contemplated and eventually decided to retire from my career as a social service programs professional working in Medicaid Programs Administration. It was time. I’ve known it for a while, but it took me a bit to come to peace with it. My life for the past 25 years has, after all, been focused on serving the elderly and disabled community of SE Alabama. My work has been rewarding. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to have served our community and consider it a privilege to have done so with excellence in mind. I’ve learned a great deal and certainly received more kindness and wisdom than I deserved from those I walked with throughout my career. I loved my clients. They taught me a great deal. I am humbled by all the memories and kind words shared with me by my staff these past months. Even so, to be honest, its’ been a challenge to shed my professional persona. After all, old habits die hard. I have lived this career thing for more than 25 years. Now, there is no alarm clock or OUTLOOK Calendar to keep me busy. Yay!!!! I’m working to resurrect my hobbies, passions and happy tasks. Gardening and cooking just two of them. I’m only a week into retirement but I think I’m finally getting the hang of it. Well, at least I hope I am.

So, what’s next for Joe from the South? Well, that’s the number one question everyone seems to be asking. To be honest, retirement looks a little different for me than many. I’m young. I’m healthy. I’ve been blessed beyond measure with the resources to be able to travel and enjoy life. So, that’s what I plan to do. And, along the way, I hope to share stories from my tiny town and maybe a few from my own past, with you. I’ve been told that I have a knack for spinning a tale. If you know my sister, Mildred, just ask her about it. I’m confident she will agree. I like to use my words and do so often. Soo many words… BTW, Mildred isn’t her real name. You may recall a previous story where I shared a little about her and how she came to be known as Mildred. Go back and read up on it, if you would.

For me and where I am today, I have a sense of peace and calm that I haven’t had in a very long time. It feels nice. To be able to sit and contemplate is something I haven’t been able to do in many years. No fault but my own for this. Looking out across the garden I can see and hear the fountain as it splashes water across the surface of my goldfish pond. My mind wanders back in time to a few odd, somewhat quirky, and definitely unique people from my little town. Their stories deserve to be shared. People like Barbara the cat lady. She was definitely quirky but had a heart of gold. My memories of the old mansion of alleged Ill repute. A large Victorian mansion allegedly known to host Ladies that, shall we say, offered their company to many of the local Gentlemen in our community…… Doesn’t every town have story like this? And then there are stories of a more wholesome nature like the local restaurant that was known to offer drive thru dining for trains. Yes, trains, often carrying coal and peanuts, would literally stop on the train tracks just outside the restaurant, and the conductor and workmen would place and pick up their orders. Then there’s the story of Miss Bernice and her boyfriend, terribly injured in the War, and how they were never allowed to marry. And, of course, stories of my grandfather George T. and his affinity for cats and cane poles. These stories and many more are coursing through my mind as I sit here today. They are a part of me and my community. I want to share them and many others with you.

So, that’s what I think I’ll do. Join me, won’t you? I am officially RETIRED. I’m no longer the Medicaid Programs Administrator. My old professional office is vacant. Ready for the next occupant. My title is no longer mine; it’s retired too. I have entrusted my people and our work with the next generation of Social Services Administrators. I trust them to continue the work we began. I’m no longer defined by what I have done for the past 25 years. It feels nice. And, tomorrow, maybe I’ll begin to answer that question everyone seems to ask lately. What’s next??? Well, we shall see.

As they say, stay tuned. You never know what may pop up here. Hope to see you soon. Best wishes. JFTS.