Summer and Change

 Summer is, well, it is, isn't. It just is.

Random thoughts:

It's the last day of school for me until August, when I will start all over again, with new classes, faces, and teachers.

This past year has been a year of experimentation and change for me. Up until just a couple of years ago, I had never worked in a school setting before. The learning curve has been interesting, scary, and boring at times, but all in all, good.

With summer here, now I must shift gears from work into what else, work.  Painting the outside and inside of the house. Inside, no problem, except for the awful wallpaper in the bathroom. ( think red cardinals all over the wall) Outside, problem. You see, I have a two story house, and my wife, parents, and daughters tell me, I can't be up on the second story working, if someone is not there. What is up with that? Are they saying something might happen to me, or are they really saying, I am getting too old?  It does bring to mind however two issues that I am dealing with, first, making working in school a career, and second, the whole idea of just getting older.

First, a school career, I worked as a special education aide this year. Not much money, little preparation and responsibility in leading, but still rewarding. The question is, should I pursue me teaching degree at the ripe old age of 57, or just remain an aide? Is it just about money, or about being passionate about something? Should a person go get another degree just because of money? I have pondered it, ( I love that word.) meditated, scratched my head, observed my teachers, and the students, and still don't have an answer as of yet. Maybe it will come to me while I am slopping paint on my house, in 100 degree heat. Paint or teach, hmmm, let's see.

Second, getting older, it's not easy. I take a hand full of supplements and vitamins every morning. I've developed allergies, and take shots for that. Exercising is no longer my friend. It hurts. Plus, I wonder what retirement will be like. Will I turn into a couch potato, gain more weight, and die while drinking a RC Cola and MoonPie? ( BTW, my contention is that the word MoonPie, is a noun, not and adjective and noun. Being from a the south, it's a given.) Being retired means I'll have time to do what I've always wanted to do, but what is it?

So there you have it, my summer of discontent and decision making.

Summer, it is what is, and will unfold as it wants and is.

Stairs, you can walk up or walk down, it's really up to you. JDF










P.S. Both photos taken with my Blackberry Playbook. So, what do you think?