MacGougan at Large

Notes on My Transition to Retirement - 9

Retirement Song

It’s been my practice to end each series of columns with a bit of light verse relating to the topic. I call it a song to encourage readers to imagine singing the words to a tune. For this series, I wanted to address my initial ambivalence about retirement by writing a pep talk to my former, stubbornly-unretired self. 

I think of this one as the kind of explanatory song you get in the first act of many Broadway musicals. The long verses I imagine as fast (business-paced), while the short choruses I imagine as slow (retirement-paced).

In this context, an “Ex” is not a former spouse but is a retiree - such as an ex-teacher or ex-insurance-expert.

EVENTUALLY YOU’RE GONNA BE AN EX

From the moment that you’re hired
You’re in line to be retired
That’s the stage that’s always coming next.
Doesn’t matter what’s your role
How far up you climb the pole
Eventually you’re gonna be an Ex.
It’s a fact that must be faced
You are gonna be replaced
CEO or Average Joe
MVP or Option Three 
Eventually you’re gonna be an Ex.

You’ll have time to take some treks, enjoy the view
You’ll wait for what comes next, try something new
Cause, when you are an Ex, you’re simply You.

The sooner that you face it
You’ll be able to embrace it
Your destiny is really not complex
Someday the show will close
That is just the way it goes
Eventually you’re gonna be an Ex.
After all your aches and pains
Someone else will take the reins
Movie Star or Kitchen Czar
High Repute or Empty Suit
Eventually you’re gonna be an Ex.

I have time to take some treks or climb a tree
I wait for what comes next, I’m fancy free
Cause, now that I’m an Ex, I’m simply Me.

(Next: Notes on Cars)