Update

You're right 444 - it's time for an update!

On the physical side of things I'm not getting any worse.  I've had the occasional day when I thought the pain was a bit less, but not often. I've tried topical gels and creams with some temporary relief of symptoms. Pain pills, even those with an added muscle relaxant, haven't really helped. And, very sadly, acupuncture isn't having its usual magical effect.

So, what did the doctors recommend? Well, the acupuncturist said to walk 8-10km per day and to also do something different like swimming. I don't swim but I will consider an aquafit class if I can find one.  And my GP gave me an "exercise prescription" as well - HOT YOGA!!

She sees a LOT of people like me (walkers, runners, hikers) with very tight muscles and hot yoga can help relax those muscles. So, starting tomorrow, I'm off to a beginner's hot yoga class. I've also started doing some yoga at home thanks to the recommendation on Carla's "blog of the "Yoga Studio" app.

**You know what would be a cool idea? A blog called "Bloggers helping Bloggers"! A forum for people to post their "problem" and other bloggers could post suggestions and ideas that worked for them.

Anyhoo - on to the depression. Through my own reading I've discovered that I'm going through the stages of grief due to a number of losses over the past year and a half: loss of relationship, loss of 20 year old pet, loss of meaningful work (retired), loss of PEI home and future life with partner, and loss of pain free movement. (loss of ability to pursue my hobbies - all of which require sitting)

The stages of grief are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I'm stuck - I'm done with denial and bargaining....still feel some anger and definitely some depression. So my doctor gave me a referral to a counsellor and I've made the initial phone call, now just waiting for a call back so I can set up an appointment. I have NO idea how long I'll have to wait. In the meantime I'll continue doing what I'm doing: getting out into nature for long walks/hikes, visiting with family and friends, going to the trailer, doing the fix ups I can manage in the condo and at the trailer, yoga etc.

Today I have a couple of not very physically demanding jobs to do - put new little bumper pads on all of my kitchen cupboards and start prepping the walls in my bathroom for painting. And tonight I have a 2 hour hike. Every hour on the hour I'll stop whatever I'm doing and get down on my yoga mat for some stretches.  Sounds like a fun day...no? Hey, it makes me feel a wee bit better to be productive in some small way.

In other news....

Kazi bought one of these earlier this week:

It's a terracotta money pot! She's saving for "trips and MOVING"!! Of course when she says "moving" she means somewhere like Texas or California...so I'm not going to worry about that yet - it could take quite a while to fill her money pot! With this type of pot there is NO way of getting the money out except to smash it when it's full reducing the temptation of taking out what you've already put in (like I do with my piggy bank!!)

My accomplishment for yesterday was to write a reference letter for a student who helped out with my Best Buddies program at school.  I was dreading it but once I got started it was surprisingly easy. It also brought back a lot of good memories and I had a few tears. Part of me is glad I'm retired from THAT job but a big part of me misses the students and the fun times we had connecting through Best Buddies.

That's it for now...time for some stretches and blog reading!

And now, the end is here...

Almost!! Only hours to go!! Though, essentially I'm done now. What? I don't think I quite understood that last sentence!  DOES NOT COMPUTE!! I'm what??? Done? Finished? Kaput? Over and out? Out to pasture?

                      RETIRED!!

TRULY? They're really going to let me leave? And continue to pay me? Is this legal??  'Cause it feels really weird - like I'm going to wake up and find out it was all a big practical joke!

Last night I dined at the parents of my graduating student, Alex. As a polish immigrant this woman knows how to cook! Pork roulade, chicken that had been marinated for 2 days, and salmon. Two kinds of slaw, potatoes, rice, her world-famous mushroom sauce, green salad, two kinds of dessert. Ooooof! I'm turning into a barrel!

However, I was so glad to leave! Oh my! Her husband said that he likes when they have guests because then his wife has to treat him a little nicer. Nice? You call that nice? The man can say nothing right - every time he started to say something she would interrupt him in her constantly LOUD and SHRILL voice - no, you're wrong....actually, it happened like this....that's not what I meant at all....the point is....no, no, no, let me tell the story...she overpowered him at every turn - I'm surprised he even opens his mouth at all. She insulted him constantly...I could barely stand it and it went on from 5pm til I managed to leave at almost 10pm! What an ordeal!

However, that is done and over so I will move on...tonight I am volunteering at graduation so I will get to say good-bye to many Gr. 12 students who were members of my Best Buddies club - there will be lots of tears. It will be closure for them and for me. Then tomorrow I will go in early one last time, sit at my desk with a cup of coffee...and remember..........then mass, a brief meeting and lunch at Aromas - a wonderful Portugese restaurant here in London. And then...

                      FREEDOM!!!

and then on to the Village Pub for drinkies with friends, pack up my truck on Saturday and hit the road on Sunday. Wow, is this really happening???   Just pinched myself - yup, I'm awake! It doesn't feel real yet, I wonder when it will?

Here are a few pics from my open house - I figure if I keep looking at images from all of the celebrations over the past couple of weeks maybe I'll start to believe it....

 Alex, we are both "retiring"...

 This is the best smile David could muster lol!

 Some of this year's gang - Natalie, David, Alex and Kianna..

A former student - all grown up! So handsome Rustic! and very tall!

 my pal Amanda, she is so very sweet:)

 Former student - Adam (we share the same last name so I always called Adam "my son by another mother!"

Former students and brothers Shawn and Gary - again, all grown up! (and handsome!!)

 Former student Agniezka and her dad - she gave a little impromptu speech and did very well!

 It took some tracking down but I found former student Jesse (her dad died  a couple months ago and she's now living with other relatives); she still loves to rub my head and say "porcupine hair!"

My AV guy, Jerry.  I got to hug so many handsome men that day :)

Cutting my cake - throughout the whole afternoon I only managed to eat a piece of blueberry cake baked at my request by my retiring student's polish mom - she sure can cook!!

 My super duper extra large sized card :)

My retirement pal -Fil - formerly the dep't head of Learning Services...

The staff and students put together a video - perhaps I'll post it one of these days - it was very emotional witnessing each student saying goodbye in their own special way...

good memories or as they say in Tignish - the very best!

the love of my life, former student Todd came to visit so we shared some cake :)

my bestie, Jules, stopped by, thank you my dear one!

 that cake I'm holding? I'm feeding it to Todd, I miss those times with you Todd... (Todd's mom to the left and his dad in the background with Jules...)

 Alex's best buddy - Melissa - they have shared some special moments over the years - they enjoyed dancing together to 60's tunes on Fridays...

the best EA ever and party organizer Michele behind me - thanks Michele!!

our big boy Paul and his mom behind me...

Paul loves to draw and drew some pictures of him and I as a gift - thanks Paul!!

 Some extraordinary best buddies!

It's difficult to see but I am holding a pink glass heart, engraved from Todd :) He stole my heart years ago!

 since it's too late to fire me I figured I could get away with sitting on Todd's knee one last time!!

Colin, a supply EA who spent most of the year with us thankfully, and Cristhian (a former street kid from El Salvador, saved by adoption and brought to Canada), an amazing young man:)

and what a thrill to see Lori once more, she's graduating from another highschool this year after being with me for 5 years. Due to family issues (her parents couldn't manage her behaviour so Lori had to move into a mental health facility which was not within the boundaries of my school). Now she's graduating and her caseworker is looking into a group home placement. Good luck Lori!

 Lori was missing a CCH yearbook from 2011-2012 (she has a mind like a steel trap) and I just happened to have one so I gave it to her. We got her former classmates to write in it so that worked out well :)

Such great smiles! It was the best day of my career seeing all of my students from the past and present together for one last time. Very emotional day...

If you made it to the end of this post - BRAVO!! I feel like I should have something amazingly deep and meaningful to say right now but I just feel exhausted, wrung out and in a daze. I really need a holiday lol!! I'd best get preparing for a long one!!  I have a long to-do list to help me get on my way so I better get cracking! TTYL!!

Last Mass at St. Peter's Cathedral

 Six times every school year everyone at CCH heads over to St. Peter's Cathedral to celebrate mass. This past Wednesday was the annual "Farewell Mass" for graduating students and retiring teachers. I thought I'd snap a few photos to commemorate the event. Our "spot" over the years has been in the left apse - nice and close to the altar.

I sat beside Natalie and after a few tries managed to snap a "selfie" of the two of us that didn't cut off our chins or foreheads!  Nothing like a good serving of jowls to keep one honest and humble!

There's my dep't head, Fil, who is also retiring this year. Both of us have come to accept that physically and mentally we wouldn't survive another year.

Isn't St. Peter's glorious?  Although I'm Anglican, not Catholic, I have come to love this cathedral for its beauty and architectural details.

Here's a view of the altar from where I was sitting - you can see the other apse waaaaaaay over there! We have about 1200 staff and students in total and there is still room for more.

There is so much to look at! My senses go on overload every mass. CCH is famous for its music students - both vocal and instrumental. The "strings" group plays for us as we assemble and to set the tone.

Upstairs (you can see a snippet of the pipe organ and orchestral (celestial:) choir on the right side of the above photo). The various choirs at CCH have a professional pianist/organist that accompanies them when they sing. Such talent!

Trying to catch David but whenever I turn the camera in his direction he snaps his head around :)  Ok, I can take a hint...sort of...

The principal called up the retiring staff and the school chaplain gave us a crucifix to mark our leaving. I gave another "unprepared" farewell speech which was well received. I paid tribute to the Best Buddies club that I've run for the past 8 years and to the welcome I received from students when I first began teaching at CCH: on my first day of school I was dashing to my classroom with my arms full of books and supplies when I lost my grip and everything fell on the floor. About 8-10 students immediately came to my aid, picked everything up, opened the doors for me and helped me to my room. Their kindness helped me get through a tough first day and I'll never forget them. By that point in my speech my voice was getting shaky and tears were forming so I ended my remarks and sat down to much applause.

After getting back to school students stopped by for hugs and to let me know they liked my speech - I soooooo recommend simply reflecting over the years to see what rises to the top and to go with that vs a written, well-rehearsed speech. It works for me.

My counter now reads 18 days. Over the past few days my emotions have run the gamut from apprehension to sadness to euphoria and all stages in between.

I do believe my imminent departure is starting to sink in!