There comes a time in everyone’s
life when changes must be made. No matter how much you love where you’re at and
what you’re doing, life forces you to make changes that can upend your life and
trigger a reevaluation of the choices you’ve made along the way.
I’m old. At least, I feel old…today.
Actually, for the last year. I know most people don’t see me as old, except
maybe my grandchildren who think I’m ancient.
I had a birthday this past Tuesday.
I am now 64 years old. Last year, I was excited to move ahead and experience
life again as a healthy older adult. I made a remarkably fast recovery after my
kidney transplant in 2019; I was back to work and loving it again. Life was
looking good!
Then COVID hit. I couldn’t return to
the classroom because of my compromised immune system…too many drugs! But
teaching online was good. I grew to love it.
Other things grew as well – like my
hips, my waist, my double chin. And the longer the pandemic persisted, the more
I sat in my comfy chair, and the wider and lazier I got. But I was feeling good
and happy to be working, so life, for the most part, was agreeable.
Or so I thought.
2021 was not good to me. I fell 5
times: once, down my daughter’s staircase; twice in a snowbank; another time
when my daughter’s dog ran a circle around me, wrapped her leash around one
leg, and threw me to the ground in a precariously painful manner. Oh, yes, and
once when I stepped out my front door. Things just went
downhill…literally….from there.
I should mention at this point that
1) I didn’t break anything, although I got a concussion on the staircase, and
2) I have a wonderful neighbor who came and rescued me from the snowbank, where
I was rolling around and hollering, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!”
In August 2021 Parkland opened up
the school again and we went back to teaching in the classroom. I was glad to
be back, but I began to realize how weak I had become from more than a year of
sitting. At least, that’s what I thought it was from. Apparently, the
concussion from March was still affecting me in August, and I had developed
vertigo. I stumbled around like a 90-year old woman, but it certainly kept the
students entertained.
I also began to forget things and
lose my focus. I didn’t know what was happening to me, and it was scary. I was
sure I was developing Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. But again, it
was all from the concussion. I never knew a concussion could last so long! I
had to go to physical therapy for several months.
COVID finally put an end to my job.
I had been teaching at Parkland for six years. I’ve put in almost 30 years
teaching every age and grade level in both public and private schools. I loved
it! I still do. But because of problems with my immune system (due to all the
medications I must take), I can no longer teach in the classroom, and Parkland
could not give me enough hours to continue online.
So, the time for reevaluation has
come, and “I think I’m quite ready for another adventure!” (Bilbo Baggins
(2003); Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.)
I’m going in a new direction,
and, with determination and a WHOLE LOT OF LUCK, it will be the best life
experience I’ve had so far. And I want to take as many along as are willing to
join me.
So, stay tuned, and hold on to the
rail. This could get a little rough!
I’m old. At least, I feel old…today. Actually, for the last year. I know most people don’t see me as old, except maybe my grandchildren who think I’m ancient.
I had a birthday this past Tuesday. I am now 64 years old. Last year, I was excited to move ahead and experience life again as a healthy older adult. I made a remarkably fast recovery after my kidney transplant in 2019; I was back to work and loving it again. Life was looking good!
Then COVID hit. I couldn’t return to the classroom because of my compromised immune system…too many drugs! But teaching online was good. I grew to love it.
Other things grew as well – like my hips, my waist, my double chin. And the longer the pandemic persisted, the more I sat in my comfy chair, and the wider and lazier I got. But I was feeling good and happy to be working, so life, for the most part, was agreeable.
Or so I thought.
2021 was not good to me. I fell 5 times: once, down my daughter’s staircase; twice in a snowbank; another time when my daughter’s dog ran a circle around me, wrapped her leash around one leg, and threw me to the ground in a precariously painful manner. Oh, yes, and once when I stepped out my front door. Things just went downhill…literally….from there.
I should mention at this point that 1) I didn’t break anything, although I got a concussion on the staircase, and 2) I have a wonderful neighbor who came and rescued me from the snowbank, where I was rolling around and hollering, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!”
In August 2021 Parkland opened up the school again and we went back to teaching in the classroom. I was glad to be back, but I began to realize how weak I had become from more than a year of sitting. At least, that’s what I thought it was from. Apparently, the concussion from March was still affecting me in August, and I had developed vertigo. I stumbled around like a 90-year old woman, but it certainly kept the students entertained.
I also began to forget things and lose my focus. I didn’t know what was happening to me, and it was scary. I was sure I was developing Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. But again, it was all from the concussion. I never knew a concussion could last so long! I had to go to physical therapy for several months.
COVID finally put an end to my job. I had been teaching at Parkland for six years. I’ve put in almost 30 years teaching every age and grade level in both public and private schools. I loved it! I still do. But because of problems with my immune system (due to all the medications I must take), I can no longer teach in the classroom, and Parkland could not give me enough hours to continue online.
So, the time for reevaluation has come, and “I think I’m quite ready for another adventure!” (Bilbo Baggins (2003); Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.)
I’m going in a new direction, and, with determination and a WHOLE LOT OF LUCK, it will be the best life experience I’ve had so far. And I want to take as many along as are willing to join me.
So, stay tuned, and hold on to the rail. This could get a little rough!
