I remember my first day of grade one in September,1970. I wore a green plaid jumper dress and black patent shoes. My mom wanted to tame my naturally curly hair, so she spent what felt like hours, combing it into ringlets, that the boy behind me pulled like springs all day. I was 5 years old and so excited to use my new Laurentian crayons. That first day feeling of excitement to head to school returned every year through elementary, Junior High, Senior High, four years of university, and 33 years of teaching!

Last September's first day of school was different in two ways: 1) it was my last "first day," and 2) our high school classes were being held in the Rec.Centre as our school had caught fire over the summer.

We tried to make that first day special for the high school students by having a tug-of-war in the arena and by allowing them to use the concession. I'm sure that the Recreation Centre made a fortune on French fries for the month that we were there! I enjoyed teaching 12th grade English in the board room; it had air conditioning!

In October the school division moved in portable trailers on the school track for the junior and senior high to use. It was cozy having 25 students in an Atco work camp trailer twelve feet wide by 30 feet long! But we had a great time! My teaching assignment was changed last year and I lost some high school classes and picked up grade 7 ELA instead. Going from an academic grade 12 English class who are preparing for a Diploma exam to 12 year olds is a huge switch! The students were awesome but I was feeling impatient so I decided to retire at the end of January, six weeks after my 55th birthday; 50 years at school was enough. I told the seventh graders the day before Christmas break that at the end of January, they would have a new teacher who would be younger with much more fun ideas. They hugged me and ran out the door excited for two weeks vacation. When the grade sevens returned in January, they were quiet and hardworking. I didn't need to say, "turn around and focus on your own work," or "please stop talking," or "no, you can't use your phone," or "sit down and face the front!" A couple weeks into January, during class a young man blurted out a line from a song that must have been playing in his head. The class turned on him like piranhas, "ssshhhh, remember the plan!" Well after the bell rang and the students were leaving the portable, I asked one of the girls, who was still packing up, "what is 'the plan'?" She replied that they thought if they were extra good, I would stay. My jaw hit the floor and I blurted out, "you like me??"

"Yeah, you're really funny!" she replied, "we don't want you to go!"

I was gobsmacked. Here I was feeling like the most sarcastic, impatient, grumpy old curmudgeon, and they were thinking I was funny! I explained the next day that my retiring was not because of them, but because of me (sounds like a break-up line!) It was time to put away my red pen and enjoy my evenings.

My last day of school was January 30, 2020 and on January 31, my husband and I boarded a plane for New York. We spent a week touring and seeing some fantastic broadway shows. Then we spent two weeks at our home in Phoenix, a weekend with friends in Palm Springs, and finally a week in Vancouver, where he attended a conference. We arrived home on March 6. And 10 days later the schools closed and teachers began online teaching. I couldn't have timed my retirement more perfectly!

This September I have not had the excitement of "back to school" but I haven't had the worry or anxiety that I know many of my colleagues are facing. My daughter teaches grade one in a small school and she was very anxious about the first day of school. Not over fear of catching covid, the municipal district that she is in has had zero cases of covid as of yet, but she is worried about how to console a six year old who isn't sure about being at school all day without being able to give them a hug. She is worried about how to keep grade ones in their desk all day so that they don't touch anyone else or anyone else's belongings. I am glad that I am on the farm where I don't have to wear a mask all day and worry about someone sneezing on me.

This September 1rst, I spent the day in the office of our shop doing farm books and working on grain contracts for this harvest. I made a harvest meal and took it to the field in aRVie, my 1978 motorhome that works perfectly for feeding a crew of combine pilots and truck drivers. Returning home from the field, I did dishes, and then...nothing! No marking, no planning, no creating student union events, just me time! I could read a book or watch TV or go visit someone! What an incredible freedom! I have spent the last 49 Septembers either doing homework as a student or creating work as a teacher or marking work. Teaching was a fantastic career; I met so many wonderful students and parents and colleagues. Spending a day with teenagers who see life in such a positive way made my job fun. I would not change a single day of my career but it certainly is relaxing to have my evenings to myself. Once harvest is over of course!