No First Day!

Today was the first day of school in Gilbert.  For me, it was the first day in 61 years that I didn't have a first day of school.  It goes all the way back to when I started kindergarten at 15th St. School in Douglas with Mrs. Bond.   Every year thereafter, I have had a first day of school!  But this year I don't.   I know that I have had several people tell me that they had to leave town when this happened to them when they retired, but it truly was okay with me! 

My daughter, Kerri, teaches fourth grade so I took donut holes and juice to her classroom this morning for the kids to get off to a sweet start for the new year.  The kids were great.  They asked me questions about Kerri when she was in school.  The best questions was did I ever have to fire a principal!!   

Yesterday when I went to get propane for the barbeque, I ran into a former student from when I was a teacher.  We hugged and caught up with her life.  She told me that she will be 43 next month.  We had a great visit.  Today when I went to get the juice at Fry's, I ran into a former student from Gilbert El who was there with his wife and little son.  Again, we had a great visit.  I shared some things with his wife about him and we had some great laughs.   I think that helped me!!

Yesterday I posted on Facebook wishing all of my Gilbert friends a great school year.  Today, I posted for my Douglas friends.   There is not a level playing field in Arizona and it is bad enough at the best of places.  Here is what I posted today:

For the past five years, I had the privilege of working with an incredible group of educators, support staff, parents, and kiddos in Douglas where I grew up. Tomorrow is the first day of school in Douglas. In the words of Rascal Flatts, "My Wish".....I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you wanna go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.
But more than anything, more than anything
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
HAVE A GREAT YEAR!
 

I have had such a great month just relaxing and getting situated again.  It has been wonderful.  I have had an incredible career and I would not trade it for anything!!!!!!  What a gift I have been given!!!!!!