It’s done. The window has been closed, the door locked, the AC shut off, and the name plate on the door removed.

For the first time since 1975 as of this moment, I have no job. I’m not employed, I don’t have a time sheet to fill out, a clock to punch, a list of work related tasks.

When I last “retired” in 2012 from public school teaching, it was anti-climatic. I had planned to leave at the end of November, but Hurricane Sandy shut us down earlier and kept us closed so simply faded away. This time and for the last time, I was able to say proper goodbyes to colleagues, to kids, and yes, to a building.

Change is very emotional and at this moment I don’t think I’ve still really processed it. I don’t know if I’ll really “get it” till sometime in the fall, after the moving is done. Normally, it would hit as school is ramping up and we are not, but this year, that timing will be linked to the actual move so it won’t really register till after the boxes are unpacked and Abbey THE dog finally comes to grips with the fact that where she is is not temporary but permanent.

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have spent close to 5 decades playing at something I’ve really enjoyed and something that I hope I was able to make a difference doing. That set of volumes has been cataloged and is now closed and in storage.

In the words of Mr. Tom Petty… “The future is wide open”…