It's June again!

Finally! Until last week, the weather was mostly cold and rainy, but then there was the heat wave and the last couple of days have been clear, dry, and refreshing.

Well, this is New England - noted for its variety of weather. Isn't that why we live here? So we won't be bored with beautiful sunny weather day after day?

June is the month of anniversaries: M and I were married 6 years ago, began living together 26 years ago, had our first date 28 years ago. It's been an adventure living with M. and sometimes I wonder how I got myself into this situation. But then I remember it's because I wanted some variety in my life and I need help with that. If it were up to me, I'd have nothing but smooth routines - a little like that perpetually sunny weather described above.

June is the month of my birthday. This is a big one - another decade. Fortunately, I'm not nearly as upset about turning 70 as I was when I turned 60. I have lots of positive role models much older than I: most of the people in my exercise class and also M. I think he keeps me young.

And June is when I was laid off from my job in 2010. Shortly after that, I began this blog as I was looking for another job and, as it says in the tag line, maybe another career. I've found both.

Fortunately (wow, that's the second time I've used that word in this post), I'm old enough to collect Social Security and can afford to work only part-time. After many, many different part-time jobs during these 7 years, I've settled into being the MassCat Cataloger - probably the most perfect job for me I could imagine. The work can be tedious, but it's only part-time. I might go crazy if I had to do it 40 hours each week; I can manage 18 hours.

And then there's my exercise class. True, I don't get paid to lead it, but if I were the entrepreneurial type (which I'm not), I could develop those skills into something to produce income. I do get several free meals each year from the appreciative organizations for whom I volunteer.

Sounds as if things are pretty sunny after all.

June

June is my favorite month. Lots of good things happen in June.

June is when Summer officially begins. On June 21, 2015 at 12:38 p.m. it was Summer.

I was born in June which may be why I've always preferred warmer weather. I'm not a winter person. Why do I live in New England with snow and cold? I don't know. Maybe it's so I'll appreciate Summer.

June is M's an my anniversary - all three of them. We met, moved in together and got married on June 17. It kept things simple and we didn't have to remember a lot of different dates. This year, he was away on business on the 17th (it happens some times), so on the Sunday before, we booked a couple's massage at East Heaven and then went to dinner at East Side Grill where we renewed our relationship for another year. This process seems to work as we've been together now for 26 years - one year at a time.

And, as I mentioned above, June is my birthday. On our birthdays, M. and I take each other out to dinner, sometimes with friends. This year, we went to Chez Albert, where I splurged (it was my birthday, after all) and ordered escargots.

June is also the month when I was laid off from a job I liked very much and was plunged into a new adventure which, as it turns out, I'm also liking very much. June 30, 2010 was my (and everyone else's) last day at the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System. State finances mandated that the 6 Regional Library Systems merge into one. Interestingly, I'm now working at that one and enjoying my limited responsibilities as MassCat cataloger. When I worked for CMRLS, I told my supervisor that the one thing I missed in that job was cataloging and I would like to do more. I got my wish.