Popcorn's Profession: In, Then Out, Now In

I can teach. I like to teach. I'm often teaching someone something. This semester I've agreed (signed a contract) to teach World History at the high school where it all began many many many years ago. Here's the weirdest thing. I've been gone from this building 11 years. Last week when I was in the Social Studies office pouring a cup of coffee, I noticed that the "coffee kitty" can that I made when I worked here right out of college is still being used!!! This was 26 years ago people!!!!! I looked at that can and my jaw dropped. Can you believe that? It is as if time had literally frozen. Strangest thing. I've lived a gazillion lives since then. I can't help but wonder what my life would look like if I had stuck around. For one thing, I'd be able to retire in two years. Full teacher retirement, in two years! My friends are retiring, one by one....but not me. Oh well, we all make choices through the years that we later wonder about...don't we? All I know is that there came a time in my life when I just couldn't hang in another day trying to get up at the crack of dawn, get self cute, get kids cute, make lunches, fix pony tails, make sure they had all their crap, make sure I had mine, make sure car had gas, make sure I was patient and loving and kind when I was exhausted....make sure they had their homework, make sure I had my lesson plans done to perfection...make sure I was a loving and in shape and beautifully coiffed wife...I had to let go of the rope and let that boat charge on without me. So I'm back at it now that things are much easier. Kids big, baby boy driving, live three miles from school. Not sure how long I'll hang in this go 'round....I've only let self commit to this one spring semester. We'll see. Gotta go give a final exam.....