On Retirement and Relays

Well it certainly has been a very busy week--not one, but 2 retirement parties! As you probably know, I decided to retire after 34 years of teaching at Wells Elementary School this June. It was a difficult decision to make, but I need to focus on being healthy now and it was just too much to be doing a full days work and an 80 mile commute every day. Sad in some ways, but nice to be able to do what I want to do-now that I've been home for a while I've been so busy, I don't know how I had time to fit in work! On Thursday, June 11, the staff of the elementary had a party for 3 of us who are leaving this year. It was a great evening-lots of laughs and catching up with staff, current and retired! The staff gave me a donation to our Relay for Life team(more on Relay to follow), and to the Cancer Community Center in So. Portland. They offer classes, workshops and support groups for cancer patients throughout Maine all free. It was a very touching tribute, and nice to know the money will stay and support patients right here in Maine.
Then on Friday, the school district and school board had a reception in Ogunquit to honor all employees with 20 years of service and the retiring teachers. I was given a mantle clock with an engraved little plaque with my name and years of service to the district. It was very nice and surprising since in education we don't get any kind of recognition until retirement! After it ended, Aaron and I had dinner at the Steak House in Wells (yummy!) then rode down "memory lane" around the beaches and capped off the night at the Ogunquit Playhouse with tickets to see A Chorus Line--it was great! After all this excitement, I spent the weekend recovering--it's exhausting to retire!!!
The Relay is Coming...The Relay is Coming...
Once again Tufts Teal Warriors will be taking to the field in support of the American Cancer Society at the Relay for Life in Windham, ME this year. If you have never participated in a Relay it is worth either getting involved or just going to visit at least once. There are Relays all over the U.S. This will be our team's third year in the relay. This year it is June 27 and 28 from 6pm to 6am. The evening begins with a survivor/caregivers lap to open the event--lots of tears all around and then teams have participants walk all night. At about 9:00 pm there is the most touching part of Relay, the luminaria ceremony when the lights are out and walkers walk the track lighted by the luminaria bags in support of or in memory of those who have fought the cancer battle. It is a very moving and powerful ceremony-lots of tears all around again--it is a night of highs and lows--we don't cry all night--as a matter of fact as the night wears on and people get more punchy from lack of sleep there are a lot of laughs and fun around the campsites all over the field.
If this sounds like a shameless appeal for a donation--ok it is! Think about the people you know or have loved who have fought the cancer battle. I hesitate to start this list for fear of leaving out some but my list would include: my Mom, Dad, Grammy Smith, Grampa Smith, Grammy Boocock, Grampa Boocock, Uncle Arthur, Louise Doty, Harry Merwin, Dale Shaw, Bob Dalton, my dear friend Deb Reid, me and so many others I know I've forgotten. We walk for all of them so that perhaps there won't be a need for a Relay in the future. If you'd like to make a donation to our team you can do so by going to our team page at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/tuftsteam-For those who may be hesitant about on-line giving, you can mail me a check made out to American Cancer Society, and I can submit it with team donations. Together we can make a difference! Thanks-Nancy