地道美语听力练习:退休后的日子

Eric: Who were you talking to on the phone?

Melissa: My mother. I was commiserating with her about Dad's retirement.

Eric: Your father retired two months ago. That was a good thing, right?

Melissa: Well, it's good that he doesn't have to work anymore, but he's driving my mother up the wall. He putters around the house and gets in her way. She retired last year, so she's had a year to establish her new routine. He's still kind of lost.

Eric: Why doesn't he take up a hobby? That would give him something interesting to occupy his time.

Melissa: Believe me, my mother has tried to interest him in gardening, woodworking, and even scrapbooking, but nothing has worked.

Eric: Those sound too sedentary for somebody as active as your father. How about encouraging him to take up bird watching or golf?

Melissa: He wouldn't be interested in those hobbies. I think he needs something more challenging, maybe playing chess or doing genealogy. Maybe he could even learn to play a musical instrument.

Eric: Maybe your Dad just needs time to find his footing again. Given time, he'll figure out what he wants to do with his newfound free time.

Melissa: Maybe. But what does my mother do in the meantime?

Eric: She can take up a new hobby, too—out of the house!