Ted sat back in his chair feeling satiated, smug, and a little guilty. If his wife found out he had a deli lunch she would nag him for a week. This retirement thing is hard. It was fine when it was just him, but since she has retired also, he feels smothered. Her new job is to get them to eat healthier and exercise. He appreciates her efforts, but that woman is a tyrant! He pops a second dose of his BP meds (just to be on the safe side) and a mint and heads home. Its time for their walk.
This week’s photo: © Ted Strutz
Friday Fictioneers is a weekly 100 word writing challenge inspired by a picture prompt. Click here to read other stories.
The Day After 
Nothing says tyranny like when someone takes charge of someone els’es life
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LOL..right?
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If you drink you die. If you don’t drink, you die anyway
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LOL…cheers!
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I imagine it’s hard for a lot of couples when they both retire and suddenly have to spend so much time together!
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Like in lockdown!!
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Yup! My BFF is off work, her husband is retired. They were my inspiration this week.
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Divorce rates to hit an all time high in 2020.
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My friends are splitting up, it’s happening
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😦
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Really? Oh, that’s sad.
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I imagine also. thanks Iain.
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Funny stuff, and I imagine pretty close to the mark in many cases
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When the man retires after his wife, she first of all thinks “oh, all these jobs around the house for him to do. And when the man retires before the wife she thinks “ah… a lifestyle project.”
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LOL…poor man, don’t stand a chance.
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Me? Retired and single! Yeah! Just think of the money I’ll save not having to buy mints.
Here’s mine!
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LOL…thanks Keith.
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It’s almost better to retire at the same time; if not one gets a routine going and when the other joins in, all hell breaks loose. I’m thinking a lot of couples are finding out right now just how retirement might be! Maybe they’ll learn from this and prepare for then.
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Ha..maybe!
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Just what he needed, a babysitter. I think lock-down generated a lot babysitting situations. You captured his “joy” very well.
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Thank you
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You’re welcome, Dawn.
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A retiree’s secret double life 🙂
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LOL…right?
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He needs a hobby to get away – just now and again.
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You mean besides sneaking away to the deli? 😉
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It might takes his mind off food -or maybe not.
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must be tough for a couple to see each other all time. conscious uncoupling could help to break the monotony. 🙂
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Dear Dawn,
Retirement with a spouse isn’t for the faint of heart. Our saving grace is our diverse interests. Although it’s a little suffocating at times. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle.
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Oh boy, did this one ever ring true for me! My husband retired before I did, and things were okay. Then I retired, and because my rickety back is so bad, he doesn’t want me to lift a finger. I had to tell him I feel totally useless and he HAS to let me do as much as I can without doing further damage. A little different twist, but retirement really does put new stresses on even a long-term relationship like ours.
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How blessed you are to have each other! ❤
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I know couples like this.
Ronda
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LOL..me too!
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We are training for this when we are both in lockdown… actually we are doing alright.
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That’s good to know 🙂
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