Jacksonville Retired Teachers
2007
I’m only very recently retired… still teaching at Lincoln Land, but I’m easing into retirement. What I’ve learned so far:
If you apply for part-time work as male model, don’t enclose your pictures. Mostly Republicans drink coffee at the Arenzville café. Grocery stores are open during the week. The sun can rise without any help. Dry cleaning doesn’t have to all be done at Christmas. There are times when the post office is open with real people inside. The world does not stop at 11 p.m. When the girl behind the counter automatically gives you a senior citizen discount, you can pretend she’s blind. There are places on earth where lunch does not end with a buzzer and you can eat a sandwich without the noise of a copy machine. I no longer have a need to know which is the best video game, gym shoe, or brand of jeans. “Cool” actually means chilly again. It’s not just a Dolly Parton movie. You really can get a day’s work done from 9 to 5. You can drive, drink coffee, and swallow more slowly. It’s not necessary to run into the hallway every time you hear a crash. Life can be lived without a set of state standards. I can watch a movie, see a play, listen to a sermon, and view a T.V. show without thinking, “I wonder what a 7th-grader would think of this.” If you close your eyes and pretend very hard, the memory of faculty meetings fades quickly. I’ve stopped looking in Police Beat to see what my class size is going to be today. The only things tested are my blood and urine.
It’s totally ridiculous for me to talk to YOU about retirement advice…but…I taught Jr. High for 35 years so I don’t often do things that make good sense.
So….from someone who has no idea what he’s talking about, to those of you who should be giving advice to me, here’s a bit of advice.
Ten Commandments of Happy Retirement 1 Make room in your life for surprises. Make sure that after a lifetime in the school system where everything is ordered and predictable that you don’t fall into the same trap in retirement. Leave time for impulse..for surprises. SURPRISES…Matt .. baritone
2 Just when you think you’ve given all you have to give, Thou shalt Give More! Self-help books all say: Take care of yourself.. Nuture your inner child. Wrong! I teach a generation of kids who need you very badly. Albert Sweitzer… The only ones among you who will be truly happy in life are those who’ve sought and found out how to serve others. Just when you think you’ve given all you can give, Thou Shalt Give More!
3 Thou shalt stop griping… Whoever said.. “Get it off your chest…” …… It brings you down and makes you a real pain to the rest of us. Charlie Rose… Johnstone.. nation’s leading architect as age 90. The hottest place in hell is reserved for gripers and complainers. “If life were 100 times longer, there would still be no excuse for getting bored.”
4 Thou Shalt Break The Dress Code…. (Not your employers, but your own personal…) Me.. no tie to church one day………. Jim Kern…… Mrs. Brown
5 Thou Shalt be an Encourager! Marie….. salt and pepper shakers Develop friends who encourage you. In teaching that was your job.. Your speciality. Keep it up.
6 Thou Shalt not Take Yourself Too Seriously…If you’ll look around, you’ll notice no one else is. Me: Chillocothe… Roger Ebert
7 Thou shalt turn your worry into prayer. New Book.. Don’t Sweat the Small stuff .. and It’s All Small Stuff. “When you die, your In Box won’t be empty.” You will NEVER get it all done.
Corrie Ten Boom; Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength. Last Day of school last year. Travis.. drug trouble.. meeting with superintendent.. Dylan came in.. I want to talk about Travis.. I think we should pray for him. Tears in supt’s eyes. Turn your worry into prayer.
8 THOU SHALT EAT MORE ICE CREAM. You’ve earned it……..
9 : THOU SHALT SPOIL THY ONLY BEGOTTEN GRANDCHILDREN. This is your job. It’s your God-given duty. ---Kids wouldn’t play at my house because of my dad. He’d whip you whether you belonged there or not! ….. Now.. he’ll drive any distance, sit through any concert, endure any JHS football score, just to watch a grandson. ---Parents are not supposed to have fun raising kids.. you are! ---Last summer: Alaska.. I was talking to our room steward.. both looking at a glacier..I was excited, he was tired. That’s because I was on vacation but he was doing his job. It was just like having grandkids. It’s your job to enjoy the glaciers. -----Kidnap your grandkids from school and go for a picnic. So what if you’re arrested. It’ll be a moment they’ll cherish forever. We often kidnap kids at camp.. 3 in the morning.
COMMANDMENT # 10 Thou Shalt Feel Blessed My college frat. Once a year. Without doubt, the lowest paid of the group. Listening to them tell their stories, I’m also without doubt the happiest in my job. The most blessed.
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