It's been a few days since I rang the big school bell in the hallway, signaling the end of another school year for my friends, and the end of my teaching career. Funny, I had envisioned this as a time when I would be jumping up and down and shouting with glee -- like the story I had just read to the Kindergartners.... "No more teachers, no more books, no more ..." but it wasn't that way. Quiet hugs, a few tears, some friendly goodbyes, and another trip down the stairs to my old classroom to "clean out" 24 years of accumulated memories.
Leaving is such a mixed message to my brain right now. I'm leaving "my" room / position to one of my first students! How lucky am I? I know her as a loving, extremely bright, and creative young woman. No doubt that she will make wonderful memories for the children while she guides them through Kindergarten. Maybe this will sink in for me in August - when I can pass the "back-to-school sales" and not fill my grocery cart with extra boxes of fruit roll-ups, cereal bars, crackers, raisins, etc..
I look forward to revamping my wardrobe from "conservative school teacher" to "fun Nana" / "lunch with friends" clothes. No, I won't be adding the wedges or heels for these old knees to wobble about, but I'll do my best to stay stylish! (Really glad flats are "in" again!)
I'm overwhelmed by what I have neglected around my home in the past 24 years - it will take some time to regroup and take it back. A great challenge I'm looking forward to doing. I have so many visions of what I want our retirement space to be like..... oh, that's right. The state's messing with my pension already - probably need to start scaling back on my big ideas!
Looking forward to Nash's ball games, Natalie's future events, maybe watching some horse races, hopefully MORE grandchildren to care for, and many, many nights of holding hands with the guy who has made all of this possible.
Haven't told you enough lately -- love you, Gary!
