Party Time!!!

     Today it felt official. Today was my retirement party.

 

I felt a strange disconnect as I walked into Westside, the place that has been my second home for 20+ years. I faced the fact that my teaching career is really over...and for the first time during this venture, it wasn't as stabbingly painful as it had been in the past.

 

     That sad, disconnected feeling quickly evaporated like morning dew as my family and sooooo many friends came to celebrate with me at the party!

 

I was surrounded by the most precious people in the world...my family and friends.  These people who have been such an integral part of my life for so many years came to celebrate with ME! My eyes well up at that thought.

 

     These were people with whom I have laughed and also ones with whom I have cried. 

 

People who left Westside and went to Aurora when our school split several years ago.

 

People who have taken the same path, retirement, as the path I am just beginning to travel. 

 

People who have been my leaders at school.

 

People who have tackled cancer and WON!

 

People from our church.

 

People from the district office who took the time to come and add friendship and delight to my day.

 

People from years past who came to learn how to teach from me for 16 weeks as a student teacher but from whom I also learned so much too.

 

People from NDSU college days.

 

People I had as first graders that are now my almost second graders, people in middle school, in high school, and in college.

 

People who I have taught or collaborated with in past years. I even had one of my dearest friends, Karen, show up on a video!

 

I was fully enveloped by good wishes, happy memories, and tons of love and support.

 

 

     Tomorrow I start a another new chapter in my life. A very scary, unsure, weak-kneed, stomach-rumbling one. I thought it would be bittersweet, even traumatic, to party one day and be hooked up to chemo-filled IV's the next.

 

How WRONG I was!!!

 

     Because of this afternoon and evening, I now know there will be NO bittersweet nor traumatic feelings tomorrow. 

 

What has taken the place of the negative feelings is so much bigger, so much stronger! What I will carry with me from this afternoon and evening are feelings of love, support, kindness, helpfulness, love, joy, caring, encouragement, friendship, love, assistance, strength, compassion, gentleness, and yes, even more love.  I now know that this was the PERFECT way to begin my next chapter.

 

     Tomorrow, as I walk into the Roger Maris Cancer Center, thanks to you, I will not walk in alone. I will walk in wrapped in a blanket of all the wonderfully amazing feelings you generously bestowed on me today. I am shielded against the negatives I will face by what each of you shared with me.  And, it won't be just for tomorrow! I will draw on all the support and strength that was given to me today for many more infusions. All I have to do is close my eyes and remember, feel the warmth and love, and know that I was given a gift that is so much bigger and greater than what I could ever have asked for or imagined!

 

     THANK YOU is way too small to begin to express my gratitude...but it's all I've got!

 

So...thank you for making today one I will remember and cherish for a very long, long time. 

 

Thank you to my family. I am SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY to have you! Thank you to all who came and shared your kind words, love, and support. Thank you for being part of my family, even though no blood is shared. You are my "chosen" family. Thank you for all the cards and meaningful gifts I received. (Molly, I am taking my Cancer Awareness pocket angel along with me tomorrow to give me strength and comfort. Thank you for that!)

Thank you, everyone, for being there today because I know it took time away from your family. Thank you for helping me realize how incredibly lucky I am to have family and friends like you!!!

 

     Tonight, as I write this, I am soaking in all the warmth, love, support, and good wishes. I will face cancer head-on tomorrow knowing I am well-loved and supported!

 

And that means the world to me!