Last school year I made the decision that my health should be top priority and that teaching with all the stress included was hot healthy for me at this time. I lived the entire year with retirement in mind. I knew I did not have 30 yrs for full pension but I was only lacking a yr and 1/2. I was sick most of the year with a cold (or something like it) all year long. I wrote my official letter of retirement intentions to the principal and to the superintendent of schools. I was officially official.... retirement as of June 7, 2013.
Two retirement parties were given: one by the school I taught at for 28 1/2 yrs and one my roommate and I gave for family members to come to. They could have come to the other one but it was pricey for most of them, so we decided we would do something informally after the fact. They were wonderful parties full of love, tears, happiness, and a bit of regret. Regret that I would no longer have kids to nurture and love; regret that I would no longer be able to instill a love of reading to kids who did not want to read; regret leaving my "home" and "family" of the past 28 1/2 yrs. I had (have) many good friends at Palmetto Elementary and I cherish their friendships, encouragement, and love. They stood by me during the cancer year and rooted me on this past year to "get through" the year with the dangling carrot of retirement.
My roommate also retired and she had always said she wanted to take a trip to Las Vegas for her retirement gift to herself...and she wanted me to go along. So 2 wks ago, we flew to Las Vegas. It was 104 degrees every day but I did not notice it. Being in arrid air is different from being in a humid environment but it did not help my on-going sinus/cold thing I still possess even after being away from school for 2 months.
My niece, Heather joined us in Las Vegas for 3 days. We traveled to Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, saw mountains, wandered through stores looking for someone who sold batteries for my new Nikon camera which had died accidently and I did not notice. We went to the Vegas Strip and walked briskly through hordes of multicultural people (sometimes being trampled and me getting quite upset), but it was worth the walk to see the gardens at the Bellagio Hotel as well as their fountain display after dark. We also saw the musical "The Jersey Boys" about one of my favorite groups growing up, The Four Seasons. It was wonderful hearing their old songs being sung again.
The time with Heather was too short but it was the first time in many years we got to spend time talking, just the two of us. I love that girl so much!!!! AND then all too soon (but time), it was the end of our adventure and back to reality. The slots and craps table had taken much of our money while there (even though I only did penny slots). When we got to Dallas Airport, they were "over-booked", which is common place. They offered for 2 people to "stay behind" and take a later flight and be given $500 vouchers toward another flight during the coming year. We did not have to return for work or anything else, so we took the later flight and vouchers. We arrived home about 3 a.m. rather than the original 5:45 but it was worth it and made up for the lost coins in the slot machines.
During the time we were gone, our one cat died. Cal and Kirby had been with us since they were 6 wks old and that was 15 yrs ago. Cal had been very thin and sickly looking for 2 yrs but he kept moving, did not cry and did not stop eating. My poor niece was taking care of the two cats and felt awful about Cal. We understoon he would leave us soon but did not think it would be while we were gone. So upon arrival home, we had Kirby waiting for us and screaming for our love and attention, which is something she never did. She was a loner and hid from everyone. Those days are gone.
Now school has started for the teachers here in Palm Beach County. The kids return next week. I am lamenting.... I do not miss the meetings or the fact that people will be at our workplace telling us how to teach and what we need to be doing and are not doing; nor will I miss the multitude of meetings that will be required. But, my heart is with the kids. I will miss my classes and learning to love each of the children with all their idiosyncracies; I will miss watching the light bulb brighten above their heads as they finally grasp a concept with which they have struggled. I will miss the giggles and laughter when I do something silly to get their attention. I will miss reading them books. I will miss my life as a teacher!!!
So my question is.... What now? Who am I outside of the classroom? How do I fill the time during the days and evenings without wasting them all on Facebook, AOL, Pogo.com and other internet attractions? How do I discover myself? Tonight I sat and watched a movie I have shown to the kids in the past. It is one of the "books" of the Chronicles of Narnia series. I loved reading these books to my "kids". Who do I read to now? I wrote to my 3rd grade nephew and my 6th grade former student wishing them a good school year and imparting advice from a former teacher and student.
The search is on. I would love to travel, but that takes money and I am limited. My pension is not full and my social security is not either since I have met my "quota of earnings" for this year by teaching 5 months this year. I would like to go to Turkey but there are "things" which need to be taken care of before that can happen. I want to go to the beach; take photos; write....I need motivation... a good swift kick in the tailend!!! I love relaxing but I do not want to get complacent or bored or lazier than I am already. Cleaning the house is an option so I can begin crafting but again, motivation is the problem and the fact I would more than likely be doing it alone.
So, retirement is nice but I must learn just who Faith is and what are the goals for this next adventure called being a "Senior". AARP says I am a senior; my hair tells me I am a senior; my aches and pains scream the same thing but my heart, my mind are yelling loudly.... YOU ARE NOT OLD!!!! Do something you have always wanted to do... and that consists of 2 things 1) being with the man I love and 2) writing children's books.
Anyone wearing army boots who can lift their leg high enough to kick me???
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