Friends

I worked with some amazing people over the years and unfortunately, in a school as big as Packemin I got to know a small group of them.  I can't blame the size entirely.  I was never totally happy there and preferred being by myself quite a bit of the time.

Now comes retirement.  A small group started going out for monthly lunches. The group of 5 has extended to a group of over 20, or at least that is how many are on the mailing list.  We all don't make every lunch and many have dropped out and are members in name only but the core group keeps coming back every month with a few more additions every couple of months.

The core group, many who barely knew each other before, have connected in a strong way.  We never talk about Packemin.  It is a thing in the distant past for all of us.  I can't even tell you what we talk about but the two hours or so goes quickly and it is an event we all look forward to every month.  We come away with a warm, tingly feeling inside, brought together by an environment that was not always so nice. As we walked out, many made plans to meet sooner than next luncheon for more individual time together.

I would like to give a special shout out here to Ben's Bay Terrace.  They give us plenty of space and time and treat us well.  Today we were given plates of their special latkas while we waited for lunch to be served.   

Friendships

I read a Facebook post by a young teacher several days ago about the friends she had made at work, friends that have become family.  I know what she means.  I have met, and stayed in contact with some of the best people ever at the schools Iin which I have worked.

My young Facebook buddy teaches at a small elementary school and has gotten to know everyone in the building.  This doesn't happen in a large school.  Often the friends you make are the ones you share a lunch or a prep period with.  There are so many you never even know are in the building.

When I retired, I started going out to lunch with several friends from the school.  These friends invited others and before anyone turned around our monthly lunch mailing is at 35 and still growing.  (Not everyone makes every lunch.)  The best part of the lunch is the opportunity we have all had to make new friends and to get to know people we only passed in the halls and nodded quick hellos to.

Our group meets once a month at a great little Greek place centrally located for most.  The owners are nice and really take good care of us.  We even get to use a separate little area in the back.

As the new year begins, I want to give thanks to the miracle that led me to enter and love the teaching profession and for now giving me a whole lot of new friends to love and spend time with.

(More snow pictures here, on Facebook)