11

 The scene above from Lincoln Park in Seattle today was a welcome relief from the seemingly out of control nature of my life these past few days.

I have 11 days to go as a public schoolteacher. I've taught for 31 years. Way too many things to tie up, put a bow on, and kiss goodbye. Yeah, right. As I cross something off my year end list, I add two more. Or three.

There is the physical part of it all - totally emptying a classroom I have taught in for 19 years. The emotional part of things, well, I'm just not even going there yet....

Then there is this detail about actually teaching school for the last two weeks - definitely the hardest two weeks of ANY school year. It is so intense, nonstop and unstructured. This year it comes with the weight of my retirement hanging in the air.

Somebody mentioned they hoped I would be able to relax and enjoy the end of my last year as a teacher. Not likely. This is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life.