Friday - the confusion is over and the grieving now begins

With all of my losses this past year and the chaos of the Covid situation, I was really hoping and praying that I would be having the opportunity to work one more year, Financially, that would be a real blessing for me and it would allow me to have some closure and to adjust to the idea of retiring. They said that they would have to post the job for a sub if I left in the middle of the year and that I could not take the sub position if I retired during that school year. The chances are strong, that they may not have the position filled because NOBODY else wants my job - by retiring in June, I could apply for the job as a long-term sub and might get it. I just feel blindsided as it never occurred to me that I was so old that the choice would not be MINE. I am scrambling to figure out how I will be able to make it with retirement sooner than I wanted to go. I also have to figure out how to protect my son Ed's future in case I die. Either way, it is going to be a major change and the grief is overwhelming me today. My principal tried to persuade them to make an exception for me but the personnel director said no - and the secretary to the personnel director said there is also a catch that would prevent me from teaching until the end of school if I retired midyear - some obscure rule about not teaching at all during the same school year that I retire.

Be blessed and a blessing to all those whose lives you touch during your journey through life,