No more pencils, no more books, no more "teacher" dirty looks!

I said goodbye to my last set of students on Friday and will say goodbye to the school next Tuesday. This past week people have asked me how I was feeling. Was I sad, was I excited? I can honestly say neither. At the end of every school year we pack up and say goodbye. However, come next August I probably will be able to answer that question. What my answer will be at that time . . . I have no idea. Hopefully we will still be in Alaska having the time of our lives and so grateful that we don't have to stop and head back to work. What I will miss will be the camaraderie and fellowship of my co-workers. I have been blessed in my teaching career to have always worked in schools with great faculty and administration.

I did make a startling discovery this week. Well, I don't know if startling is exactly the right word but it did make me stop and think. Bob has been retired for about a week. On Monday I had a dentist appointment right after school and I stopped at home for a quick tooth brushing before I went for my appointment. When I walked in the door I found Bob all ready to accompany me. I had no problem with that, in fact I was happy to be chauffeured, but like I said it did make me think. Bob has always worked 8-5, five days a week, about fifty weeks a year. I, on the other hand, have usually been able to leave work by three and have extended holidays and all summer to do what I wanted to do. If I wanted to go shopping after school or spend 4 hours wandering through a store during summer vacation I just did it. No having to tell someone where I was going or justifying why I wanted to go. Hm-m-m, things will definitely be different now. Food for thought!