Greetings fellow swimmers! It is a Wednesday evening in late August, and while I sit on the back porch and listen to the cicadas sing their summer song, I'm reminded of a day from my childhood. It was a night like this - not too hot, but not too cool. It was the night before the first day of school. My new dress was laid out (red and blue plaid, in a light cotton), and new brown leather penny loafers (yes, I had slipped pennies into the slits!) sitting next to my bed. I can almost smell the new leather! A new book bag, blue, (not backpack -we didn't have those yet!), a pencil case holding new pencils, an eraser, and a protractor, and notebooks waited on the dining room table. I couldn't wait to meet my teacher - it was either third or fourth grade, and the anticipation was killing me. I loved school.
Fast forward a couple decades, and the feeling of anticipation of the night before the first day of school still existed. There were no new notebooks, but a planner for my lessons; the same tote bag; new markers, highlighters, and a few new outfits. I never lost the love of school. But, now that I have retired, and this would have been the night before the first day, I find myself strangely at peace.
I am doing what I like - artwork; reading; spending time with family. I get to play with Simon in the morning while I drink my coffee; talk to friends; sit with DH while we make plans for when and where we will play American Mahjongg that week (yes, a new hobby that we learned together. It keeps the mind going!) And travel planning -Ms. Business is taking me on a trip to Ireland next year - I can barely contain myself! My first juried art show is coming up in September. I've apparently beat the breast cancer - radiation has been done for a little over a month, and it's like nothing ever happened (except that I am tanned in areas that have never seen the sun!).
Life is Good.
Now, if only it would stop raining long enough for the sun to come out and warm up the real pool - that would make everything completely perfect!
I wish all my teacher friends a good year - that the children will be receptive to learning new things, and that your creativity as a teacher will remain fruitful. I'll be watching your posts!
And, if you feel you would like to come take a dip in the Stress Pool - well, you know it's always open!
