I loved teaching. I thought I’d never quit. Then a new principal arrived. The kids called him Barney -- because he looked somewhat like Barney Rubble in The Flintstones.
For some reason, the man had my name on a list of older teachers he wanted to get rid of. I don’t know why. W-e-l-l-l-l, it could have been that time I got up & left when he tried to show us a Harry Wang video on how to make an effective seating chart. Or maybe it was the Barney Rubble Pez dispensers the teachers carried around. Or…
Since I’ve always loved writing, I decided to sit down at my grandmother’s old walnut secretary, open the lid and feed it my disjointed thoughts during this confusing time.
I always started “Dear God…”
I was so surprised what came out in my scribbles every day. It seemed as if my right hand had a mind of its own. As I was approaching the big walnut desk one day, something really strange happened. Right when I reached the embroidered chair that my friend Sharyn had given me before she died, it felt as if a thousand- pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Literally, lifted off my shoulders.
I felt complete PEACE. When I sat down, my hand wrote, “ Dear Lord, I know the party’s over. It’s time to retire.”
Several days later, I noticed a faded circle in our burgundy carpet exactly where I had been standing when that absolute Peace came over me. I don’t know what happened. But as Albert Einstein once said, “The most beautiful and deepest experience a man can have is the sense of the mysterious.”
Stepping Stones that the Wyandot Indians used to cross the Sandusky River
As we age, it’s not surprising to be anxious about what our futures hold, to spend some time thinking about what steps we should take. Not everyone has a surreal experience to guide them. But I was lucky because after the rubble cleared, I realized retirement was a great thing. It has turned out that I have time to travel, explore new interests, support causes I love. I can be my own boss – a type of entrepreneur. I even have the time for walks in the woods and time for binge- watching Heartland.
The first day of retirement I emailed my teacher friends, “Cleaned my oven today.”
“Why?” came back the reply.
“Because I could.”
Sold Pine cone wreaths I made at Mustard Seed Marketplace last Christmas
It’ll Be OK for you too.
~~~
“My retirement plan is to get thrown into a minimum security prison in Hawaii.” ~ Julius Sharpe
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN RETIREMENT?
Jan, my retirement story is somewhat similar, only it was 9 years ago, haven’t regretted it at all. My story actually begin the year before during the 2011-2012 school year, the district was offering bonus to retire, it was one years salary spread out over 5 years. Everyone thought I would take it, did think about it then decided I could work another year, get that salary, plus a year added to retirement pay, and my class was an ok group but not best didn’t want to end on down year so did another year. That following year, the principal was having issues, there were new programs coming down the road, new training that was being developed, when all this happened I decided it’s time, made my decision in September but didn’t tell anyone till January, then only a few people. The bonus was my class, I taught first grade, was awesome, I was having the best year, kids were learning and teaching was fun again! So I ended my career with a great last year! Have enjoyed my retirement, traveling, spending time with family and friends, enjoy my quilting and card making hobbies. Thanks for sharing your story.
I love this, Jan! Our stories are pretty similar. Mine involved a question, "what has the time come for in your life?" combined with walking on a beach in Oregon and hearing the words, "what are you waiting for? This is not MY timeline for you." I went back to work for three days and then wrote my resignation letter. At the time I didn't know if I was retiring, but God put me back on the writing path and I've been going down it ever since. Isn't retirement grand?!