tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post2986254587448682226..comments2023-10-22T05:17:46.986-07:00Comments on Catbird Scout: IdentityDeb Shuckahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439395710731341021noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-18104419230769637972015-08-11T10:32:36.077-07:002015-08-11T10:32:36.077-07:00Dreams are odd things aren't they? Windows to ...Dreams are odd things aren't they? Windows to our sub conscious that sometimes reveal so much about ourselves. I love the way you write and the way you have interpreted that dream Deb. I wish you well with your retirement from teaching and I know you will not be forgotten by those pupils you so ably taught. Hang on to those memories that will surely warm your heart for years to come. :-)Deborah Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17261449936843388583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-59657259683182972642015-07-28T06:57:07.152-07:002015-07-28T06:57:07.152-07:00Ive missed being here to your blog. I remembered t...Ive missed being here to your blog. I remembered that this was your final year and wondered how you were processing it. I loved reading this post! You were a huge blessing to so many faces over the years. We always remember our teachers. Who can forget those that encouraged us and taught us? You will always be remembered in so many hearts. That is a huge legacy.Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-33225047643315859162015-06-24T14:51:17.007-07:002015-06-24T14:51:17.007-07:00That was so beautiful. I just completed my second...That was so beautiful. I just completed my second year of being a "retired teacher" rather than a tired teacher and there are still pangs of sadness when I miss some of the things you mentioned and don't miss others at all. I have a new identity now that I'm happy with, but I will never forget the intensity of the years of being a teacher. You speak for many of us!Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16035113274497372396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-2862377665507869882015-06-22T14:14:17.740-07:002015-06-22T14:14:17.740-07:00Don't worry, Deb, you'll always retain the...Don't worry, Deb, you'll always retain the identity of teacher because it will keep blooming inside you, even if you don't have daily tasks in a classroom. Now enjoy being a teacher on your own time and with your own goals. You have many great memories - go and make some new ones! Congratulations and good luck!Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04984171407726520584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-66411131197172055372015-06-22T11:41:42.309-07:002015-06-22T11:41:42.309-07:00I loved this post. It brought back my own memorie...I loved this post. It brought back my own memories of the classroom and made me ask myself why I left it. I have no doubts that one day, you'll be a "Rock Star" again and I hope to be one of your groupies.<br /><br />Love youMark Lyonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05915827981541131957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-70104819252069632222015-06-20T02:54:55.407-07:002015-06-20T02:54:55.407-07:00You've spent most of your life in a great adve...You've spent most of your life in a great adventure. Now you have the rest of your life left to experience a whole new adventure. Fly gracefully and find your new place in the sun.<br />This is a wonderful post. A joy to read again! Charlene N. K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07072869649591170822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-55301834748357199732015-06-19T10:58:09.728-07:002015-06-19T10:58:09.728-07:00This is lovely. And, I'm late to the party rea...This is lovely. And, I'm late to the party reading it. But, another fine essay. I can't wait to see what you do with your time now. Hopefully, you'll sit back and just be for a while until you rest. <br /><br />Be proud of your service to the teaching field. They will miss you, but just think how you'll get to enjoy yourself for a while. Cheers!<br />Midlife Roadtripperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06700277803842883251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-30618323169077890692015-06-18T18:32:58.885-07:002015-06-18T18:32:58.885-07:00You cannot ever remove yourself from the identity ...You cannot ever remove yourself from the identity as teacher. So many former students love you so, so much. There is one I know who graduates next year. You will just also be sooo much more. You will feel complete and whole and amazing. Cannot wait to spend time with you to discuss this amazing life change.triciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04929205365777864208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-35003818697076206672015-06-18T14:33:20.249-07:002015-06-18T14:33:20.249-07:00You nailed it, Deb, in the most beautiful and eloq...You nailed it, Deb, in the most beautiful and eloquent way possible. When I read your words, "this loss of identity as I prepare to retire from teaching is a much bigger deal than I want to believe or have given credit to", I knew that was what I was mourning. <br /><br />I am thrilled to be officially retired, this being my first day I can say that, but already deeply missing those people who filled my daily life with their chatter and love.<br /><br />Congratulations on a job well done in the classroom. I'm so glad you now have the luxury of time to write; time to gift the world with the treasures welling up from your heart and soul.Sandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15923693784234135636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-51131219030197301312015-06-18T07:28:17.142-07:002015-06-18T07:28:17.142-07:00You nailed it, Deb, in the most beautiful and eloq...You nailed it, Deb, in the most beautiful and eloquent way possible. When I read your words, "this loss of identity as I prepare to retire from teaching is a much bigger deal than I want to believe or have given credit to", I knew that was what I was mourning. <br /><br />I am thrilled to be officially retired, this being my first day I can say that, but already deeply missing those people who filled my daily life with their chatter and love.<br /><br />Congratulations on a job well done in the classroom. I'm so glad you now have the luxury of time to write; time to gift the world with the treasures welling up from your heart and soul.Sandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15923693784234135636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-6324276204086176252015-06-17T05:16:06.802-07:002015-06-17T05:16:06.802-07:00Hi, Deb, I sometimes have lunch with a group of re...Hi, Deb, I sometimes have lunch with a group of retired elementary school teachers. None of them regret retiring. They all have enough to fill their lives everyday. You probably have even more than they do to fill your life--your writing/blogging. You've written beautiful essays over the years I've been following you. I hope you continue producing them. That may be your real gift now to fulfill. You can explore new ideas and themes, if you wish. I'll be interested in how you do. Good luck in retirement. writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-13204201886405048942015-06-15T06:21:54.609-07:002015-06-15T06:21:54.609-07:00I feel your struggle, but I have many teacher frie...I feel your struggle, but I have many teacher friends (and other school staff) who have never regretted retirement. To get their education fix, they volunteer at the school district. Some sub, but honestly that's a tough one. <br /><br />What you need to do in your upcoming spare time, is write a book with inspirational stories like this for teachers. Just a thought. Also, there are teacher publications that might use stories like this one. If you use this one, you'll have to tell them you've published it on your blog. Or you might remove it and see if that is okay with them. Lovely post. T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-70168358324699303532015-06-14T23:53:49.387-07:002015-06-14T23:53:49.387-07:00You rock, Deb! And congratulations on this very, v...You rock, Deb! And congratulations on this very, very large and glorious change.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-50579519957619701152015-06-14T20:01:58.322-07:002015-06-14T20:01:58.322-07:00Best of luck with your new life..You will sore hig...Best of luck with your new life..You will sore high and far and I look forward to reading your words and feeling your passion!yayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047536332780197024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-85332185211386421552015-06-14T17:30:28.466-07:002015-06-14T17:30:28.466-07:00I am thrilled that I will have the chance to witne...I am thrilled that I will have the chance to witness what will happen with the next phase of your wonderful life, Deb. You have such a keen sense of how to express almost inexpressible feelings for all of us who have been teachers (even if, in my case, it was as a skydiving instructor) when it's time to move on to other pursuits. I remember a special teacher from fifty years ago, and while I've forgotten her name, I will always carry within me that seed she planted about language and its importance. I know you have done that for countless students. Blessings and thank you very much for this post. I am enriched. :-)DJanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07152183871573797791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-81706276046546050732015-06-14T16:17:16.990-07:002015-06-14T16:17:16.990-07:00Hang on to your identity as a teacher for a while....Hang on to your identity as a teacher for a while. Take pride and satisfaction in being _that_ teacher for so many children, who are still making their ways through the world and passing along at least some of what you taught them. Be your own rock star for a while. Before long you'll find yourself rocking at other pursuits, and you'll still have those lovely memories to enjoy and celebrate. Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17223278142557533175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-91630260557283277182015-06-14T15:31:39.936-07:002015-06-14T15:31:39.936-07:00Linda Reeder is right. You have created a masterp...Linda Reeder is right. You have created a masterpiece in writing. Your second to last paragraph summed up the exact feelings I had as I left the classroom. Yes, at times, we do feel like rock stars. Mostly though, it is that building of a family with the students you teach. You become a part of their extended families because of the stories you share. They become a part of your heart because you nurtured seeds of growth in so many areas of life in the year you taught each child. Teaching is a beautiful, mysterious profession. It is a profession that exhausts, frustrates, enriches, and defines a life. It is not easy to leave it behind. It means that the teacher must do much reflection and processing of what one's life has meant as a teacher.<br /><br />You will land on ground that will bring forth great fruit. I'm so happy for you. Sally Wesselyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06470453773515491625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323372985310307718.post-40105591787798241532015-06-14T11:40:52.106-07:002015-06-14T11:40:52.106-07:00Once again you have created a masterpiece in writi...Once again you have created a masterpiece in writing, full of imagery and emotion. I can identify with much of this.<br />I have been a "retired teacher" for ten years now. Wow! That went fast. I did find new ground under my feet, and you will too. For me it was the intellectual stimulation I missed most, the constant need to problem solve that teaching requires. I missed the feeling of importance and power I felt at being a leader among our staff. That was very satisfying at the time. But I traded that all away for freedom and a lack of stress, from being burnt out to looking for new adventures. It didn't take long to find my days full of my new life.<br />Congratulations on your retirement. Drink in every feeling, every event, every emotional parting, and store it away in your heart. It will be there when you need it, in your memories. Linda Reederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665601809156707572noreply@blogger.com