Retirement Looms!

Well its almost official. Two Fridays ago Dan and I went to Downey to the LA County Office of Education and then to Glendale to the PERS office to hand in my paperwork for retirement. I must say it was just a bit intimidating. As one looks forward eagerly to this new stage of life, there are some trepidations as there are with any change and certainly with a change as monumental as this one is. That'a a picture of me at the PERS office just after I'd turned in my paperwork.

By the way, the place was packed. With all the talk of pension reduction and union bashing, I guess if you're ready to retire and have been thinking about it, most people think they had better take the plunge now before its too late! At least that's what the lady at the desk said. She mentioned that there were many more people turning in their paperwork or seeing a retirement counselor than there had been at this time last year. Sign of the times I guess.....

Going to the County Office was a little bit like deja vu. Having worked there 15 years it was almost like going to an old home again. But this time it was quite different. The place is buttoned up tight. I was hoping to go upstairs to see my old office, but no chance. Security all over the place--- you must sign in and declare where you are going and who you are seeing. Then all kinds of security in carts in the parking lot. Quite different from when I worked there. Of course, that was almost 25 years ago! Wish they had had all that security when I worked there. My little diesel Rabbit got broken into in that parking lot and my radio stolen while I worked there. Don't think that would happen now.

But I'm sure that I will look back and just laugh at all the machinations that I went through as my retirement became imminent. I love it when I ask people who are retired how long they have been retired. They say, "Oh 10 years or is it 15? The days seem to just go by you know....."

As of today I have 80 days left....and I'm looking forward to it (no matter how I sound!).

A Busy Day...And Meanwhile On the Other Side of the World.....

Yesterday was a very busy day at work....Helping students prepare their research for their final spring papers, students in the library all day getting ready for History Day competition...boxing up materials for transfer to other schools...the usual desk work...well, it all became a blur about 1:00 pm. My dear friend came by my office to share her lunch and have a chat...God is good! I needed that half hour to sit, enjoy some delicious food and talk with a good friend.

All day in the back of my mind was the horrific events that are occurring right now on the other side of the world in Japan. Seeing the pictures and videos of the earthquake/tsunami on television before I came to work left me both in awe and in absolute horror. Especially striking was the video of the tsunami moving like a freight train over the well manicured farms and villages, taking with it untold numbers of farm animals, houses, cars and undoubtedly people.
Very little sound...its not needed..... Certainly something that I have never seen the likes of in my lifetime. Even worse than the Indonesian tsunami (if that's possible!).

This morning we gave a donation to the American Red Cross for disaster relief for Japan. I urge EVERYONE to make a donation to this cause through whatever charity or method you support.

It may not be much but it might help someone in dire distress or sooth a frightened child, or provide a meal for an old person or provide a bed for someone who has lost everything.

We live our secure lives here not thinking that such a thing can happen to us. But one look at the damage on the California coast from an event over 3000 miles away should give us pause.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan. God bless them and give them comfort.

American Red Cross: http://american.redcross.org

Great Dinner - Great Friends

Last night Dan and I had dinner at Vince's (our local spaghetti house) with about 28 people, all members and/or spouses of Pomona High's class of 1965. I was really surprised that that many folks turned out for the get-together. We all had a great time with lots of talking and catching up. Its great to see these people visit with one another like it is still high school. Most of them grew up together and went through all the grades together, so they are life-long friends. The top picture is a shot of the length of the table from my vantage point.

I also saw a dear friend there celebrating a family birthday with her family. Many, many years ago I was involved with Pomona's Valley Community Theater and met and worked with some wonderful people there. Well, two of those great people were Ronnie and Jack Fisher. I did lots of shows there over the years and enjoyed working with Jack on several productions. Sadly, Jack passed away a few years ago. But Ronnie is doing great and now all her children are grown with grandchildren and even a few great-grandchildren. She was there last night and I got to give her a hug and take some pictures with her...Fun--fun---fun. That's a picture of Ronnie and her beautiful daughters above.

I was reminded by my sister-in-law Jane, whom I also saw yesterday that retirement should be nothing but fun! The word she used was "freedom." We all had lunch together - they live in Maryland and we don't get to see them very often, but we always enjoy it when they are here. I concur with Jane's words, and am looking forward to it immensely. I have 119 days left as of today!

Retirement Looms!

As of today I have 123 more days until retirement. I have worked at Pomona High School as the school librarian for almost 25 years! As I think about retirement, I can't believe that I've have worked there that long. Then I think about all the teachers and students that I have known since I started there in 1986 and its really incredible. I have been thinking that the students who graduated when I started in 1986 are 43 years old now...guess that's enough evidence to believe that its time to move on.

I must say that I have really enjoyed working for the Pomona Unified School District. I graduated from a Pomona district school (Ganesha High School) in 1966 and have always felt a deep sense of gratitude for the excellent education that I received there. My hopes have always been to give back to the students that are there now the best that I can give each and every day.
I have met some wonderful people while I have been working at Pomona High. Teachers and administrators who are so devoted to the studenst and their families and who give so freely of their energy and time to help make each student the best they can be. In all the years that I have worked there I 've met nothing but great people and great young people.

This year, 2011 will be my last year of professional work. It will be hard to leave all the great people who I see and work with every day. But I guess in everyone's life these changes must occur. Reminds me of a book that I read a long time ago by Gail Sheedy called "Passages." In that book she talks about the passages and changes of life that normally occur as one ages and moves on in their life. I guess this is one of those "life passages" for me.

As I think about retirement and what lies ahead for me, I am encouraged and very excited. My son Mark and his beautiful fiance Katie are getting married this summer. I am eagerly looking forward to the wedding which will be at the beach. It should be a glorious, utterly joyful day.

I'm looking forward to traveling, catching up on lots of projects that I have had to side-line for many years and catching up on alot of good books that I have been putting off reading. (My Sony Reader is also full!). I am hoping that this blog will let me talk about some of the exciting things that are going to happen and will help me as I adjust to becoming a "lady of leisure."