Second Chance

            Last week I started reading a book by Jane Green called Second Chance. It is the story of how one man’s death can be the catalyst of change for the childhood friends who gather to mourn him. These friends are forced to face the realities of their lives and are given the chance to change where they are headed. While some of the storyline is predictable, it is still a thoughtful read and conjures up memories of the movie “The Big Chill”.

            Life is full of second chances, but the trick is to recognize them when they are given to you. Thirteen years ago when I quit my job with the St. Paul School District I had every intention of working on several book ideas. I even got as far as doing some research for one particular story that I had been sketching out in my mind. However, keeping up with a five year old pretty much occupied my life. Those three years between jobs were filled with children’s play dates, excursions to the local library and tending a huge garden that helped fill our freezer and pantry.

            Now I have been given another chance to corral those characters whose voices I keep hearing in my mind. This time I have promised myself not to let this chance slip away. Who knows if there will be a third chance later on down the road.

A Job Worth Doing Right

It’s amazing how much stress the mind and body can absorb and deal with until just the right moment, when all that tension comes out, usually in the form of complete exhaustion and for me a head cold. In looking back over the past few months I’m surprised that I managed to wait until after my last day of work to get sick. Dealing with the impending uncertainty of losing my job, worrying about my sister who was going through cancer treatment, and experiencing the first signs of menopause played havoc with my emotions and mental well-being.

I’ve been asked how I managed to continue in the day to day tasks of teaching. The answer is easy. “If a job is worth doing then it is worth doing right.” I remember these words and others from my father who taught us to always do our best. These past few months I have had to dig deep and draw on my fierce independence in order to get through. The lessons I learned from my parents have served me well, and I can only hope that I pass them on to my daughter. However, I don’t think I will be teaching these lessons in quite the same way I was taught. Living in today’s world I can’t imagine helping to foster her independence by “running away from home” as my parents did back when I was in high school. Shocking you say? Maybe, but that is a story for another day.