When your high school friends begin to die off, it can really suck; but it can also be just the wake up call you need to make a decision you have been considering.
I recently heard about the death of a high school friend who was so dynamic and vibrant, that it was hard to believe she could die, much less at so young an age. When my younger sister died, it rocked my world. But, she had a lot of health issues and did not take good care of herself. But when Lauri died, she appeared to be the very picture of health. That kicked me in the gut!
I have been wrestling with the idea of retiring, but worried that I really couldn’t afford to do so. Now, I have decided to screw the worry and just go for it! I’m not waiting for tomorrows that may never come. Oh, I’m not leaving my job today, but I am planning and laying the groundwork to make the change when I become eligible later this year.
I was not always as close to Lauri as others from school were; but I traveled to the Bay Area a few times and we were able to get together on a few of those trips. We talked a couple of months ago when our friend Terri lost her long-time love. Lauri just wanted to make sure Terri was going to be okay.
So, thanks to Lauri Rousseau (not for dying), someone who always seemed to go for it and who put faith in powers higher than her own, for the wake up call. I’ve decided to start doing some of the things I’ve always wanted to do, but was too insecure to make happen.
I’ve actually started saying, I’m going to retire at the end of the year…out loud…to my boss! I’m looking at places to live abroad, which is one of those things I’ve always wanted to do, but never seemed to fit into my schedule.
I hope any of you that have a dream to do something that scares the crap out of you can find the courage to just go for it! I hate that Lauri is gone, and I hate that so many people will miss her, including me. But I am thankful for her friendship over the years. And I will try to remember her along with the others in my life who are no longer here every time I’m doing something I wish they were with me to enjoy. Wake up call or not, I say just go for it!
kathryndstokes 
Kathy: Did Lauri Rosseau pass away. I hadn’t heard anything but I am pretty much out of touch even with Facebook. Can you confirm?
Hey Steph, Sadly, Lauri passed away. She was found dead in her apartment a week ago today. Her daughter was unable to reach her and got the Dallas Police to check and they found her. Not sure what happened or how long she had been dead. Her last Facebook post was March 5 and some friends were concerned because she was a pretty active poster. Really sad. How are you doing?
Hanging in there. I was just so surprised because Laurie looked so young – as if time had not affected her at all. I hate seeing these obits about people we went to school. A lot of our classmates died really young and now that time has passed, it seems we are losing them way too fast. Feel like I am pretty healthy but now I think that I should possibly take a step back and do a reality check on my bad habits and change those. I have decided to change careers after 35 years in the oil and gas business. That will still pay the bills for a little longer, but now I am going to enjoy something that I have wanted to do for a long time and that is to rehab and flip houses. I have been a flipper-failure so far. When mom was still alive she and I bought 4 houses in our old neighborhood and I still have those houses and rent them out. So this has been in my blood for awhile. But I think now I will be able to let go of any new properties (other than those I want to keep for rentals). I don’t post on Facebook but I enjoy reading what everyone else is doing. Love your “Views” writings. One of these days hopefully I will be able to catch up with you and Terri (would love to see her again also). Keep me posted if you decide to move out of the country to retire.
WOW! I am so happy that you are starting a new career doing something you love. We will definitely have to figure out how we (you, me, and Terri) we can get together and catch up.
GO FOR YOUR DREAMS COUS..GO BEFORE YOU ARE UNABLE TO. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT AS YOUR MOM AND DAD DID..SEND US A POST NOW AND THEN SO WE CAN SHARE THE ADVENTURES…LOVE YOU MUCH!!!!
We definitely need to get together at some point. I am able to travel fairly easily these days (that is if the Lord is willing and the creeks are rising) unless I am in the middle of a project then it becomes a little more difficult but let’s shoot for something. Not sure Terri is these days and you seem to be on the road a lot too.
Terri retired, officially on her 62nd birthday, May 31st. She does some part-time work and a lot of volunteering in the county where she lives in Washington state.
Travel is my middle name although I don’t get to do as much as I used to. But I still manage to put a few miles on my frequent flyer accounts and hotel loyalty club accounts once in a while. I try to get to New Orleans 3-4 times a year, but so far I’ve only been once in 2016. But I’m planning another in August; yeah, August in NOLA is only slightly cooler than August in hell but my great-niece is competing in a tournament. I’m going because my friend has an apartment we will use while she’s down there, and I’ll get to be in New Orleans.
I think Terri may be planning a trip to Houston, if that is still on her radar, I’ll let you know. That would be a good time for me to come over and we could all get together.