My world According to Me… thus far

As most of you know I’ve jumped off a very large cliff. This post is simply a warm up to things yet to come.

No More Teaching: This was the very, very hardest thing for me. I love being a teacher. It was a passion, calling, career, and job for me- in that order.   School supplies are like Krispy Kreme donuts to me. Tedious planning makes me giddy. I seriously want to cut out lamination, make name plates and come up with new games. Give me a complicated child and I’m all about making that little Stevie love coming to school and succeeding. And I desperately miss meeting a new group of parents. But I gave it up and I’m rolling the dice. Please don’t encourage me to go back. The amicable divorce is final. (Know anyone that wants to buy a ton of third grade teaching supplies?)

Retirement: This was the second hardest thing for me. I’m not retired. I’ve changed my career setting. I have no money and I don’t believe I’m a respectable retirement age. Daily, I draw on a bravery I did not know I had. I’ve fielded more comments than I ever imagined. My determination is larger than my bank account.

Best Friends: There are only two. You know who you are. One will get my jewelry; the other will get my Elvis albums.

Car Club: Hoping to devote more time and perhaps branching out to other clubs. I kind of wish meetings began with prayer. Actually most things in life should begin with prayer.

The Mustang: Can’t believe it is over two years old. I’ve saved every gas receipt. Wash it like no other. Miss the ’03 Tank-still reach for things that are out of place. The Tank didn’t talk back to me. I carry the VIN # just in case. In fact, I carry all the VIN #s with me. You never know when a ’63 Corvette or ’79 Trans Am might seem familiar. The car life be like…

Blogging: Back at it! A huge shout out to Mart, Mustang Maniac, and Sid. These folks follow me from well outside our borders. Many thanks to family and friends who take me just a tad more seriously than the average cat video. Social Media (in my heart) can be the largest island of loneliness. It helps, hurts, includes, excludes, promotes and tears down.

My boys: They are gifts beyond measure.

Hubby: Thanks for letting me jump off the cliff. (Humorous comments welcomed!)

Writing: I have so many projects in the works. A goal without a plan is just a wish. A few feet away are several white binders that are my plan. Thankfully, the process is just as rewarding to me as the outcome. (Kind of like teaching). Shhh.

Drinking: I do too much. So did Hemingway.

Religion: Sit down and hang on… I’m no longer Catholic. Yvonne and I have been on a very complicated journey for the last two years. She needed someone else to talk to besides me, and I needed to love God without religion getting in the way. We’ve joined a wonderful church. Google maps found it half way between our houses. Rock Presbyterian has a small congregation of the most amazing folks. We look forward to church every Sunday and feel right at home. How wonderful to be comfortably devoted to God instead of trying to fight through smoke screens of formality and tradition. We pray every day without ceasing.   God has a path for all of us. Feeling blessed!

Weight Loss:   It’s a numbers game.

Tomorrow: The next day is always better if you do your best the day before. The next day can begin with you doing your best even better. Bobby Bones says: Fight, Grind, Repeat!

Smile: Always, always, always smile. It does so much good. When it’s hard to do, it means the most. When it’s needed, it does the most good. When you don’t do it, you’re missing out on the most good of all.   Smile.  Always smile.

Thanks Pete W!

Finally… On Writing:

This will cause me to do one or more of the following:

1. Go broke (oh, wait already done)
2. Reveal myself (I’m an open book, hee hee, hopefully someday someone will open one of my books)
3. Become famous
4. Feel regret (just teasing, never!)
5. Inspire others (Please don’t ask me to write about teaching)
6. Make money (we need more garage space)
7. I would love to meet Ellen Degeneres.

In parting – my apologies for the self centered post. In my defense it is nothing like a tri-fold Christmas letter. I’ve not been to Hawaii, earned a degree, or lost thirty pounds. I’ve simply jumped. And I’m currently working on the proper landing.