Forwarding Address_Dominican Republic

Never being one to stand on formalities I did not intend to mark my retirement in any way, shape or form.  Little did I know that during my final year of teaching I would work with a then, first year administrator who served the Alberta Teachers’ Association, Edmonton Local by sitting on the Teachers’ Retirement Reception Committee……she may be small but she has a wicked left hook.

Thank you, Susanna for encouraging me, and encouraging me, and encouraging me to attend the Retirement Reception.  It truly was worth the pain I experienced from that punch.

During the evening’s activities a very wise retiree reminded all the people in attendance that during the careers of the retiring teachers we had been blessed to, “meet a ton of people.  It’s a profession that is incredibly rooted in relationships…. “ (1)

This statement really hit home for me as I looked at the people sitting with me.  While having my arm twisted the big question for me had been,, “IF I go, who will I invite?”

During ten of my teaching years I was fortunate to work at St. Mark Junior High School. People came and went from St. Mark but of all the people I had worked with a small core group had managed to kept in touch.  We would meet on a regular basis whenever we could find time in our hectic schedules, it was at one of these coffee sessions that the quote about relationships was demonstrated.

I casually mentioned that I had received an invitation to the Retirement Reception and jokingly said, “so, do you want to go to the reception as my guests?” I was not at all prepared for the response from all three as they, without hesitation said, “ yes”.  (I think the real selling point was the free concierge parking).

These three amazing women are teachers but they are also wives, mothers and mothers-to-be, daughters, sisters, and friends.  This gives you an idea of how busy they are.  Despite their crazy lives they made arrangements, and time to attend this function with me.

 

 

So, yes Suzanne you are right.  When it comes down to it our careers as teachers really are all about the relationships we forge through the years.  How blessed am I to be living proof, how blessed was I to work with these three women and how blessed  am I to call them my friends.

(1) Rosko, S., 2016 Teachers’ Retirement Reception