Yes, the countdown clock is going. I'm officially retired after 34 years of teaching high school. Those last days were hectic and lots of fun. The four younger teachers in my department took my fellow retiree and me out to lunch one day, gave us wonderful cards and gifts. I have a stack of cards and letters from my students, many that choked me up but none that could wipe the grin from my face. On that last day I received lots of calls from my family, hugs from my peers, including the school superintendent, and walked out of that school building with no regrets and lots of plans.
During that last hectic week at school, I also received the (hopefully) last round of edits for First Dragon from my editor at Crescent Moon Press. So between all the smiling and hugging, I worked on those edits, tried to keep up on blogging, facebooking and get in a few new pages on The Queen's Heiress, the follow up book to The Marine's Queen.
In fact, I spent the last week fulfilling one of my retirement intentions. Keeping multiple projects in the air. And I loved it. Writing easily could have captured more than forty hours during that time. It was wonderful. So edits are done and sent back, 5K done on WIP, and blogs are ready for the week. I have a lot of little things to accomplish but also time for the WIP.
Besides all the in person kindness I received on retirement, Alex Cavanaugh kindly congratulated me on his blog. It was like another hug just to make the day complete. Thanks, Alex.
I know many people will be taking holidays over the next few months as will I. I'm looking forward to a quick, trip to the Jersey Shore next week. The second week of July, we're heading to Colorado. I'm not sure how much I'll be in touch. Now that I'm a full time writer, I have to wonder when exactly the days off are.
What are your plans for summer vacations? We did stay-cations last year, very cheap. Are you setting some writing goals for the summer months?
16 comments:
Congratulations! It sounds like you're going to be busier "retired" than you were before. :) I think that's great. So many people retire and have no plans and just do nothing.
This summer, I'm going to keep working on my novel, maybe join Camp NaNo, plus a few other writing related projects. I also have a few fun days planned, too. :)
Congratulations!
I don't do much writing in the summer. There's too much to do around the homestead.
I'm starting my hubby's countdown for retirement. I suspect things will change big time when he finally comes home to stay. (We've lived 300 miles apart for 13 years.) I'm looking forward to a full time husband. :)
Glad it was such an awesome last week. You are free now! Still grinning?
Congratulations! That is quite an achievement! You go, girl!
Congrats on your retirement! We have some day trips planned, but that's about it.
Alex, I am still grinning.
Thanks, Betty and Maria.
Your summer seems as busy as mine, Madeline.
Congratulations!! Have a great summer!
Congratulations! I hope you love writing full-time...certainly sounds like you have more than enough to keep you busy.
Congratulations on a successful career in teaching. May your writing career soar above the clouds.
Congratulations! Enjoy your first summer as a full-time writer. I've already had my visits for the summer, and now I hope to not go too crazy with the boy home and having less writing time.
Congratulations! When you are not working figuring out the Days Off does become a challenge. In fact, keeping track of what day it is can become tricky;)
Congratulations. Sounds like you've got your summer planned out. Have a great time and enjoy it. =)
Congratulations! Now you can write and do fun things. My wife is looking forward to her retirement, but she's still got a few years ahead of her.
Lee
Wrote By Rote
CONGRATULATIONS!!! And I'll bet you find you are just as busy now, if not more so.
We're just back from our big vacation (Alaskan Cruise) but there are a couple mini vacations on the horizon and a couple writing conferences, so it should be a hectic summer.
Enjoy yourself.
Congratulations, Sue!!!! Wonderful!
We'll be going to Montana in July. Probably around the time you'll be in Colorado.
How fantastic for you. Congrats and here's the next new adventure.
Go you.
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