Retirement

Today's the day!  Mom Paula is retiring after 38 years in education and government!  We are thrilled because it means she will get to spend more time with us.  Mom Paula is a little nervous because it will be a whole new world for her and the finances will be a little tight until she turns old enough to receive her social security.

Mom Paula with Gail Morrison (person who hired her at CHE) at her retirement party

Mom Paula was an elementary school teacher for 1 year, a middle school mathematics teacher for 16 years, a college professor for 10 years, and a program manager at the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education for 11+ years.  She received a B.S. degree from the College of Charleston, a M.Ed. degree from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. from Clemson University.  She is so thankful for all of the people she's met and worked with over the years and is looking forward to what's next.

What's Next?

Spending time with us is #1

Mom Paula:  I reach this point in my life with many emotions.  There is relief because there will no longer be the stress of going to a job everyday that is stressful, yet enriching.  There is apprehension because I'm going to be unemployed for the first time since I was 15 years old.  Yet, I look forward to these upcoming years with anticipation and excitement.  I have many goals for the future and if I accomplish these, I'll work harder than I did the past 38 years when I was getting paid.

• Spend more time with the girls.  They've gotten used to me being home more the past 4 months because I had leave days I had to take or I'd lose them.  I enjoy going to a different room in the house and looking down to see they've joined me.  
• Purge and reorganize my house.  My house is so cluttered!  I have so much stuff from being a mathematics education college professor and a program manager and it's time to purge.  I still have 4 boxes of data from my dissertation research from 20 years ago.  I want my house to become a home I enjoy living in again.
• Take classes at  universities and online.  I want to learn about graphic design, HTML, SEO, photography, and other areas that will help with my blogging career.
• Take care of myself.  Having been diagnosed with Celiac Disease 2 years ago, I really haven't taken care of myself physically or emotionally.  It's time to get outside in the fresh air, walk, become involved in activities, and eat healthier.
• Travel.  I've been lucky to travel across the United States because of my career the past 20 years.  I'd like to visit every state in the United States and then venture across the borders and the ocean.  I'd love to meet the humans behind the cat (and dog) blogs I've come to love the past 9 years.
• Volunteer.  I'm considering volunteering at a local shelter.  I don't know what I'd do yet or if I could handle the emotions of these homeless fur children, but I want to give back.
• Enjoy whatever life brings me.  I'm lucky to still have both of my parents.  They are older and their time is limited, but I want to spend as much quality time with them as I can.  I want to enjoy life again. I want to experience life!
• Become more involved in the blogging community, which definitely includes BlogPaws and the Cat Writers' Association.  

Look out world, here I come!