“It was as if something shook the library shelves of my brain and forgotten books fell open on the floor”
-Susan Moon
5th grade culmination 1997. I had just completed my first year of teaching. Top photo is of myself and the other 5th grade teacher. It was October 1996 and we were in the mountains for a week-long camping trip with our classes. One of these lovely young women sent me an email last year and it was literally the highlight of my entire teaching career.
Now it’s Thursday and I’m completely finished. Last week, another dinner with former administrators Cheuk, Wing, and Sal : The Good Guys. My friends and teachers – Glen & Tammie.
And dear sweet Momo, my first friend when I came to Chinatown 11 years ago.
The sun has just risen on Los Angeles. Day 1 of retirement. It’s quiet and peaceful. I can hear birds through the open windows. Soon I’ll go on a walk. There’s a group of matilija poppies I have a meeting with later.
This was on my porch when I arrived home on Tuesday – my last day with the students. As previously mentioned, I wasn’t feeling sentimental, just RELIEVED. I had a very challenging group this year. It was one thing after another all year long. I only had a more challenging group one other time – in 2012. That was the year I took a year off and went to Venice. But now, I am gratefully done.
Expect postcards and smoke signals. Update me with news from your world. xo
Discover more from Dispatch from LA
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
You’re free at last, Mary Ann! What a momentous time in your life. I’m glad you’re just savoring it on the porch. May your retirement years be as wonderful as mine. These past 6 years have simply unfolded, as I responded to my suppressed interests. May it be the best years of your life.
More time for you to mine those inner jewels… the best is yet to come👏👏👏
So. Many congratulations 🎈!
Huge congratulations! Enjoy every minute. And that poppy! Took my breath away!
There have been very few things in my life where the sense of relief and release have been so palpable as when I finally retired. Congratulations to you for earning the rest of your (already eventful) life. I’m knee deep in volunteering in my community. It IS WORK (as are many things that are meaningful), but it’s worth it.
relief and release. OH YES, Leese. It grows by the day as I start to understand I will not have to tolerate this particular form of jackassery any more.
Congratulations on a job well done! Teaching future generations isn’t for the faint of heart… kids will be kids. While we’ve never met, and some would say I don’t know you, I’ve read between the lines of your posts over the years and do get a sense of who you are. Thank you for being one of the good guys influencing our impressionable young people. No doubt you’ve taught them well, and I’m sure far more than academics. Thank you for your service, time, compassion and commitment. Now… go have the time of your life… see and do all the things!
Congratulations! one door has closed and just look at the view you can see on the other side. I’m so excited for you and we are all looking forward those future postcards. But first…enjoy the new pace of the first day of your new life. Sending you a big hug from Michigan.
Ahhh yes I will enjoy this slow pace. Day 1 has been delightful. thanks, Wendy xo
I am so very happy for you, MAM! You have inspired so many young minds and old minds like mine, too! I hope you enjoy every minute of your days! Congrats and thank you! Xo
SBTC: I’ll be in Virginia this fall – Richmond. Where are you again? Wouldn’t it be fun to meet for coffee talk? xo
Congratulations! Enjoy your retirement. I look forward to hearing your stories as you unfurl,unwind, relax, create, travel!
Congratulations! Fun to see your photos! Thank you for your service! Teaching is huge!!! Forward motion. Acclimating to the world of retirement. You have so much to look forward to! I’m very happy for you. Peace, out!
Thank you for the many gifts you gave to the Castelar Community!
Indelible memories etched into my mind.
Hi Mary Ann,
Congratulations on your well earned retirement and THANK YOU for your many years of service on the front lines. I sadly lasted only six years teaching children from Federally funded housing projects. Those poor sweethearts had hills to climb through no fault of their own. I hope you enjoy every minute and I continue to enjoy your lovely writings and musings and art. Bravo you!
Aw thanks so much Krista. I carry it all inside me. Every day. And as time passes I have no doubt the bad memories will fade and the good remain.
Good things come to those who have waited!
Congratulations on your must-deserved retirement! I send you a thousand well-wishes for endless hours of adventure, painting, botanical walks, kitty time, and gorgeous, still-life-worthy snacks to power you through.
Cheers from SF!
Cortney
big thanks, Cortney. still-life worthy snacks – mmmm. like the peach I just ate!
PARTY TIME!!! Loved seeing “new teacher” Mary Ann. You have seen it all, I’m sure! CONGRATS!
And congrats to you too, my friend out there in the Carolinas 🙂
I am so happy for you and eager to continue following you on your new adventures.
HALLELUJAH! CONGRATULATIONS! I’ve been reading along since at least Venice – probably longer…YOU DID IT! I can’t wait to hear about the future adventures. I have a guest room coming up as of August this year if you get a hankering for islands in the Pacific Northwest. I’ll either see you or read about you and yours going forward!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
Congrats! When I retired from teaching it just felt like summer vacation until I didn’t have to go back to school in the late summer/fall. I’m not sure how it will be for you, but enjoy! It might take some adjusting but every day since I retired I get up and I’m thankful not to have to be in the daily rat race. For me, teaching was a wonderful gig, but it was time to make room for other things in life. I’m sure you’re ready for new adventures too. (Well you’ve said you are in your past posts so maybe I should just say enjoy the new adventures.) Congrats again.
The kids have been so lucky to have had you for a teacher. I do believe that they will always remember you as one of their best teachers. I hope you have a wonderful retirement and can’t wait to see what you’re up to.
Congratulations! It’s too bad your final year had to be one of your hardest years. My son just finished his first year of teaching and is looking forward to Year 2 . . . AFTER a good summer break 🙂 I’m looking very forward to reading your Postcards From Retirement! Hurrah!
Congratulations on your “forever” last day of school! From now on it’s just the School of Life and being a lifelong learner — such possibilities! We have been planning our journey from Oregon back home to California this spring and seem to have gotten tripped up on every stumbling block in the road. House won’t sell, husband’s company getting more challenging to work for — you name it. So I try and find the joy in each day — the small stuff like baby birds in the nest, flowers blooming and the fact that we’re healthy and active — and wait on the universe to give us a green light to leave. Lady in Waiting here. But now you’re a lady of leisure, or of action — your choice. I’m happy for you!
FREEDOM! You have more than earned it! Congratulations! Happy Retirement!
Oh mary ann – you darling girl = what a fabulous, adventurous, generous, creative, fascinating, life you live! I admire you and I love you. You have given so much to everyone – me included. I look back on all the ways you have affected my life – I’m so grateful. AT1
End of the year is always tough. A relief when done. Now u can nap and read. Chi=ingrates on your retirement. 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾
Congratulations!!!🍾🎈🎉. Enjoy !!!
Woohoo!
Congratulations, you did it! … and survived smiling.
Now, on to the good stuff!
I am looking forward to reading all about it.
Happy Hugs from Florida!
Congratulations on your retirement, and on your many years of teaching. You have given the priceless gift of knowledge to so many young people. Wishing you every happiness in your new adventures! <3
I’m sitting here thinking how strange it is to feel such relief and happiness for someone I’ve never met. Such is the tiny virtue of social media. Very very best wishes to you on your retirement and new direction!
Wow–I never knew you took a sabbatical and went to Venice. How cool!
Congratulations! You made it to the finish line. I wish you all the happiness in the world during your retirement.
What have I been up to? My mother passed away early last month. I have been dealing with executor-type stuff. Never knew there was so much paperwork involved.
A couple of days after her funeral, I went to England for a little over a week. Funny little mishaps kept happening when I was there. I think it might have been my mom, playing tricks on me. Oh, and I went to Choosing Keeping and Shepherd’s Bookbinding in London (recommended by a mutual online acquaintance). If you haven’t been there, you need to get there!
XOXO
Congratulations! I’m looking forward to reading about your new adventures. Enjoy!
Take it from a retired teacher. You are on day one of a magnificent time, full of curiosity, travel, and some sittin’ around and watching the sun roll across the sky. Congratulations. I know you will make retirement a special time. You won’t miss teaching AT ALL.
Yay! It has finally arrived, congratulations!
I am in the throes of sorting and packing up my life. I’m currently living in northern Oregon near the Columbia River but I sold my house and am moving back to So Cal to be closer to family and friends. This will be the 15th city/town I’ve moved to and at 74 I’m thinking it’ll be the last. I wish you luck and all good things, wish me luck as well.
MAM, I am so so so thrilled that you have finally begun your retirement. I’ve been counting the days with you and watching your excitement grow! And now it’s the first day of your new life, and you can BREATHE! I’m sending you so much peace and calm and art on the porch 🙂
So happy for you!
I know you will fill every moment of your sweetest retirement doing all the things you love and of course to fritter away time doing absolutely nothing if you choose to. You are allowed to endlessly day dream and engage in long conversations with flowers and other wee things. I am so very excited for you Mary Ann as you enter this freedom phase of your life. I welcome every smoke signal and postcard sweet friend.
Warmly
Susie from MN
Congratulations! Enjoy this new chapter of your story!
Susans comment says it all.
Be well
Be happy
Don’t look back!
Congrats my friend! Welcome to the other side.
It’s such a beautiful place to be. Enjoy the first week off to the brim. Come see me again.
Enjoy all the days ahead. Each day is a lifetime
Dear dear Mary Ann, I am so happy for you. I recognize that feeling of relief. In a few days I will celebrate the one year anniversary of my retirement. I recall those first days of freedom and really all I wanted to do was be quiet and rest. Realizing that I no longer answered to anyone other than myself took a while to sink in. I would imagine as a teacher it may take a while because you have always had summers off. I’m anticipating you will have a big day of realization when everyone returns in the fall and you are off DOING WHATEVER THE HECK YOU WANT.
My working friends have asked me, “Aren’t you bored?” Sometimes I am but when I think the thought of “I’m bored” it is always closely followed by a smile and the thought, “Isn’t it great that I get to be bored!? And I can just experience it with peace!!” Knowing that no one is going to email me to request that I do something else is, to me, a lovely gift.
So, celebrate YOU! Surf the net all day. Sit on your patio and do absolutely nothing but drink tea and pet the kitties. Sketch when you feel like it. Nap a lot. Stay up late and look at the stars. Read a great book all night long and sleep til noon. Do nothing. Just enjoy being completely in charge of your life and every minute of it.
Congratulations, Mary Ann! You’ve made it to the other side!!! I hope it is long and enjoyable!
Congratulations Mary Ann. You have had a wonderful career and now it’s time to relax and create stuff.
I have followed your journey for many years and have enjoyed your classes and posts, especially your travel logs.
Every time I read your smoke signals a giant smile appears on my face.
If you decide to travel north to Portland, I would enjoy seeing you and if you ever consider
doing a workshop, I would love to host it.
You are an inspiration and I wish you a very happy retirement.
Cheers!
Oh, Mary Ann, congratulations! On a career of teaching and inspiring so many students. On surviving and thriving in a challenging yet vital career. On showing your kids that learning and creativity are fun. On sharing your wisdom and humor with so many little people… and us too. I look forward to what comes next for you. Enjoy the silence, the expanses of time, the cat companions, the books, the art, and the friends that await you.
I am so thrilled for you! I know how long you have been waiting for this day. I look forward to watching you savor every drop of joy in your future!
so very happy for you. thank you for taking us along these past years. looking forward to witnessing a new You. thank you for being such a wonderful steward for our children. not everyone can do that.
Hurray! Congrats on your retirement. It’s wonderful being able to do whatever you want every day. Enjoy!
I am so happy for you. I cannot wait to see what you fill your sketchbooks with. Enjoy this special time of life
so very happy for you. Retirement is wonderful, enjoy every minute.