El primo de junio

June 8, 2021



Sharon has just enjoyed her first week of retirement! Congrats sweetheart! Although she has been quite busy with the last items on our checklist prior to us leaving in four days.
 
As the last Tuesday of my work career gets locked in the books, the reality--or the enormity of this next step is front and center. We have been dreaming about this week for a long time. Although it’s easy to look at this new chapter as “time off” or a “vacation”; it is really so much bigger than that. I am feeling an entire mental shift is needed to fully embrace what being retired is all about. No alarm clocks, no schedules, no commitments (unless we make them) are all great; but what are we going to do now? This question doesn’t hold any negativity or trepidation for us. It sounds like the best question I have ever been asked! I am not a good enough typer to list the plethora of answers I have at the ready; but, I think a concise summation could be: We are looking to enjoy and experience the enormity of life!

Well what the heck! That sounds like a mouthful. Yes; yes it does, but that is the actual beauty of it! The trick I think that is helping me to understand this retirement thing is that in order to look for those answers, you have to see without limits. Life continually erects conditions and confinements around us that we take for granted and are comfortable with because they are how our daily life is structured with family, work and day-to-day needs and requirements. I am so enjoying the mental process of removing those previous limitations and seeing a world of possibilities that are waiting to be experienced.

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  I thought a few visuals would give you an idea of what we are thinking about for “what’s next?”​

        I wasn’t too sure what the last week of my career would be like; but I have to say it is better than I imagined. Family and friend gatherings have been frequent and so enjoyable. Well-wishes from current and former colleagues have brought back emotions of working hard together, remembering difficult times and reliving the joys of being an educator through the achievements of our students. 
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        I have been blessed to have been able to have worked with two different groups of outstanding educators during my career. A special shoutout to my SPHS crew of Joe, Trox, Frank and Mike for their commaradiare, guidance and friendship as I started my career. A special thanks to my 401 colleagues, Jim, Pete, Paula, Sue and Nick that have modeled leadership and a commitment to continual improvement of student learning; as well as demonstrating the power of same-minded people getting things accomplished. My Elmwood team will forever be in my heart, and those special relationships with teachers and students will be the things I will remember and smile about. I would like to thank you all; as I am a better person for knowing you!   (Wait, remember, there’s no crying in baseball!)

¡Ya hablamos! Nos vemos pronto.