It's a Long Long Time from May to December......

     At my retirement dinner, I sang a little parody of Sinatra's, "It Was a Very Good Year."  In it, I went through my career as a teacher. 

When I was 31

I first taught Kindergarten

I had 25 kids

My back didn’t hurt

I could bend my knees

I taught them ABCs

We had a lot of fun

When I was 31

When I was 45

I team taught with Laboure

We had 53 kids

In a double room

And we had two aides

We taught novels for grades

And that class came alive

When I was 45

 

When I was 58

I again taught Kindergarten

I had 22 kids

They broke my back

I couldn’t bend my knees

But I taught them ABCs

And the sledding was great

When I was 58

And now the days grow short

I’m in the autumn of my years

And I drink lots of wine

As I sit on my couch 

In front of the fire

I think it’s time to retire

Maybe drink some beer

It is a very good year.

      I thought it was a little bit clever and I cracked myself up. I think it was well received by those in attendance.  

What struck me was how my teaching career spanned 30 years, but it seemed like it passed by in the blink of an eye.  Upon further reflection,  It seemed like my life had passed by in the blink of an eye. Where had the last 60 years gone? 

   

      I can scarcely believe that I am 61. The great Satchel Paige once said, "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" That is one of those things that go through your mind and make you say ...hmmmmmm.... So how would I be? certainly not 60 ...... 50? No, my 50s sucked. 40? ......... 30? .... no, I didn't like 30 either ..... 37 sounds about right. 

     

I turned 37 in October of 1989. We had recently moved to Unionville into the house we live in today.  Jamie and Jessie were 4 and 2, I was a tenured teacher in Moorestown, NJ, commuting the 50+ miles across the river each way everyday.  Lucy, our first Golden Retriever was 2.  We were rockin' the suburbs and life was pretty good. 

    

         Yeah, Satchel, I think I am 37...... but know that I am 61.  As much as I am not at all happy about growing old, I am resigned to it..... The aches and pains of arthritic hands and knees and back remind me daily that time marches on, and I think on some days, it marches on top of me. So all I can do is make the best of it.  

     

       Back in September after the rush of summer, and what seemed like endless vacations. I came to the realization that a summer of dining out, mid-day Margaritas, cold beers while fishing, and a trip or two to the Dairy Queen had added a few extra pounds making the arthritic knees and back complain a little louder each morning.  Not only was I old, but I was old and fat. I couldn't do anything about the old but I could take care of the other. So with a little resolve and great expectations, I went on a diet. 1500 calories a day.  It was doable. 

A Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich for breakfast, a salad with a couple ounces of tuna fish or some other protein for lunch, a Manhattan with a dinner of salad, a vegetable and some kind of protein, and a glass of red wine for "snack" before bed. Like I said it is doable. The Manhattan and the wine make it bearable.

The good news is that it is working. Since September 21, I have lost 27 pounds and am only 3 pounds away from my first goal, which is a month earlier than I had expected. With a little bit of luck, and a little more exercise, I might make Goal Two, which is 10 lbs beyond Goal One, by New Years.

So while the days grow short, and I am in the Autumn of my years, like the song says,  I am going to make the best of it. This retirement gig is the BEST.THING. EV.ER.
Getting old sucks, but I think by whipping myself back into better shape it will make it less painful.
And hey, I'm only 37 so I have a long time to enjoy it.