My Letter of Introduction

Dear Reader,

So, I guess this is my cover letter. Can you relate to that- kind of looking for a job letter?

As you can see, my name is Mr. R. I come with great skills of curiosity, simplicity, hard work, blah blah blah. If you got this far, maybe you would like to know more about my journey in this world of hobbies and living.

I retired from being a teacher in 2010. OK, date me. I just turned 70 YO. It’s really hard for me to admit that. I don’t feel old. I’m not old. I’m experienced! I like that better because it describes me more accurately.

When I retired, I was one of those folks who thought “My job is my life”, “I live for teaching”, “Teaching is my vocation, not my occupation”. Can you relate. The year I retired, I was devastated because I pulled the plug in a time of terrible unrest and where the then governor was talking about taking teacher retirement and benefits away from us. I’m not feeling sorry for myself today, but in February of 2010, I sure was.

I was so scared about the future that I talked to three accountants, a banker, my union rep, and my financial planner. I heard the same mantra. ‘Why are you still working? Are you nuts?’. That, however, was not good enough. I went to Social Security; yup. Same answer. ‘Why are you still working? Are you nuts?’

Needless to say- I was nuts. Fear of survival makes a person do things that they would not normally do. My great friend Mr. Dunlap reminded me “Mike you are so important and the school needs you so bad that they’ll tell you two things when you leave. “Thanks. “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out”.” He also reminded me that I would be forgotten three days after I was gone. Right again. Very, very prescient words. Very accurate as well.

Why do you need to know this? Retiring was like losing a loved one. I had to travel to all the stages of grief. Once I began to admit that I was a spec in the universe however, I began to look at life as a candy store of possibility. Some possibilities looked chocolatey scrumptious, and some were not interesting enough to sample. Others spoke to me “Eat me, Eat me”, until I tried those lovely candies an it turned out that they were white chocolate covered deer poop.

You still with me? If so, great. In a sense this, this blog is another piece of candy that I’m sampling. It cost me 50.00 to get a host for a year, so we’ll see. I trust that folks will find me and that they will share stories, thoughts and ideas with me an whoever else reads these posts. I have two rules- it’s a teacher thing;

NO HATERS PLEASE!! However old or young you are I hope we cans hare an learn together. Thirty-five years of teaching gave me ample opportunity to ignore haters.

In conclusion, there’s a lot to be said about being retired. 55 and out, baby!!!!!!

I wish you peace,

Mr. R