My Last First Day

I went back to work today after the school summer recess. I'm an educational consultant, so I work when school is in session. It dawned on me that my year has revolved around the school schedule since 1952 when I entered kindergarten. Through elementary, high school and college, first days always represented new beginnings. In 1969, I began my teaching career and, for the next 40 years, the academic schedule continued to rule my life. Even during the few years that I took off to raise my children, either DH or my kids or all three of them went off to school ready to begin a new year. So for me, the start of school represents the start of a new year.

Now you might wonder why I’ve spent time thinking about the first day of the academic year. The reason is that this is my last year; I will retire in June 2009. I wonder how it will feel next August when the school year begins again without me.