You might be wondering why I have a photo of potato latkes and apple sauce and especially a picture that is not exceptionally good, but for once there is a relationship between my photo and this post.
Several years ago, several retired teachers from Packemin started meeting for lunch once a month. The group started at 5 and grew to as many as 20. We all don't make lunch every month but it doesn't matter. We are informal and we are fun. We never discuss school, we talk about vacations, shows, museums and everything else of interest to all. We are together to enjoy life and to support one another when things don't go well.
Our group is all female. We were teachers, paras, school aides, secretaries, cafeteria workers and even a former principal has joined us at times. The only requirement to join our group is that you are female and worked at Packemin. School is a phony world. People we were friends with while working are not necessarily the people we choose to be with now and people we barely knew while working have become close friends.
I loved my teaching career and now I love my retirement life. I am grateful for many of the things I got out of teaching and especially the friendships I have made after that part of my life has gone.
And now for the picture. Every month we go to Ben's Deli in Bay Terrace. The manager really likes our group and lets us use a back room for a "private" lunch even if only 8 of us show up. Today he sent over this plate of latkes to feed us while we socialized and waited for our lunch. A special shout out now to Francesca, our favorite server and managers David and Hal. We love you.
