By Tim Fullerton
In August of 2010 I became eligible to retire from my job down at the
fertilizer factory where I work. I'm still working, mainly because I like
the flow of greenbacks. But just knowing that I can retire puts a certain
level of calm in me I hadn't known before.
Most young people think of retired folks as those mall-walkers, or the old
men in funny hats playing checkers in the park. When I think of retired
folk, I wonder if America would exist at all without them.
A young lawyer retires from active practice at the age of 31 to pursue his
hobby of scientific experimentation. He leaves the firm he founded.
He has made provisions for his firm to cut him a percentage of future
receipts. As a secondary hobby, he gets involved in politics. He
eventually become governor of Virginia. He retired from that job after two
years. Later, he resigned as U.S. Secretary of State. He retired as
President of the United States after two full terms. At the age of 81 he
became the president of the University of Virginia.
By now you know I refer to Thomas Jefferson.
A newspaper man retires at the age of 41 to also pursue scientific experimentation. He sells his share of the newspaper he owns to the shop foreman. After retiring, he finds himself: Elected to the state assembly. Named Postmaster. He becomes a militia commander. He spends many years in England representing his state. He has only a two month rest upon his return when he's named to the Continental Congress. Less than a year later, he's appointed as the Ambassador to France. Ten years later, at the age of 79, he's elected Governor of Pennsylvania. Two years after that, he attends the constitutional convention. This newspaperman who wanted nothing more than time to experiment was, of course, Benjamin Franklin.
An army colonel resigns his commission in disgrace after surrendering his
fort to the enemy. The general assigned to finish the campaign the
disgraced officer began, hired him back. But the general's efforts were worse;
he marched his troops directly into an ambush. The colonel again
resigns his commission (for health reasons) at the age of 26. He becomes a
farmer determined to bring scientific methods to farming. He also dabbles
in local politics. He's a happily retired farmer for 15 years. Then,
at 42, he's sent to represent his state at the continental congress. To
his shock and dismay, he's named commander of all military forces. Through
eight long, grueling years of war, victory is finally achieved. He retires
his commission – again. At age 51 he returns to farming. For four
years. He reluctantly serves as the president of the constitutional
convention. Then as President of the United States. Retiring from
that job at age 65. A year later he was again named commander of all U.S.
Forces when a war with France was threatened. He was finally allowed to
resign his commission for the last time at age 66.
This disgraced army officer was, George Washington.
Look over these three. All retired to pursue science. Politics
was a hobby. All responded to a need when the need was greatest and most
dire.
In August of 2010 I became eligible to retire from my job down at the
fertilizer factory where I work. I'm still working, mainly because I like
the flow of greenbacks. But just knowing that I can retire puts a certain
level of calm in me I hadn't known before.
Most young people think of retired folks as those mall-walkers, or the old
men in funny hats playing checkers in the park. When I think of retired
folk, I wonder if America would exist at all without them.
A young lawyer retires from active practice at the age of 31 to pursue his
hobby of scientific experimentation. He leaves the firm he founded.
He has made provisions for his firm to cut him a percentage of future
receipts. As a secondary hobby, he gets involved in politics. He
eventually become governor of Virginia. He retired from that job after two
years. Later, he resigned as U.S. Secretary of State. He retired as
President of the United States after two full terms. At the age of 81 he
became the president of the University of Virginia.
By now you know I refer to Thomas Jefferson.
A newspaper man retires at the age of 41 to also pursue scientific experimentation. He sells his share of the newspaper he owns to the shop foreman. After retiring, he finds himself: Elected to the state assembly. Named Postmaster. He becomes a militia commander. He spends many years in England representing his state. He has only a two month rest upon his return when he's named to the Continental Congress. Less than a year later, he's appointed as the Ambassador to France. Ten years later, at the age of 79, he's elected Governor of Pennsylvania. Two years after that, he attends the constitutional convention. This newspaperman who wanted nothing more than time to experiment was, of course, Benjamin Franklin.
An army colonel resigns his commission in disgrace after surrendering his
fort to the enemy. The general assigned to finish the campaign the
disgraced officer began, hired him back. But the general's efforts were worse;
he marched his troops directly into an ambush. The colonel again
resigns his commission (for health reasons) at the age of 26. He becomes a
farmer determined to bring scientific methods to farming. He also dabbles
in local politics. He's a happily retired farmer for 15 years. Then,
at 42, he's sent to represent his state at the continental congress. To
his shock and dismay, he's named commander of all military forces. Through
eight long, grueling years of war, victory is finally achieved. He retires
his commission – again. At age 51 he returns to farming. For four
years. He reluctantly serves as the president of the constitutional
convention. Then as President of the United States. Retiring from
that job at age 65. A year later he was again named commander of all U.S.
Forces when a war with France was threatened. He was finally allowed to
resign his commission for the last time at age 66.
This disgraced army officer was, George Washington.
Look over these three. All retired to pursue science. Politics
was a hobby. All responded to a need when the need was greatest and most
dire.