SURPRISE PARTY!

After 34 years, my Mom is officially a retired school teacher. She has been looking forward to this day for years and now it is upon us.  She no longer has to "clock in" and be accounted for by anyone.  I think the poem I included in my memory box speech ( I will tell you what I am referring to later) says it  best :

Think What You’ll Miss


No more little minds to fill
No lessons learned against their will
No error-filled assignments left to grade
No more lame excuses made
No more love notes intercepted
No consoling those rejected
No more parents to appease
No more endless IEPs
No more eating lunch-room fare
No more students’ vacant stare
No school board unreasonable demand
No more fear of being canned
Your days of teaching now are past
Retirement day has come at last. 

I would cite the author but I don't know who wrote it so I apologize.  Anyways-for months now my sisters and I have been busy planning this surprise retirement party. Although the party itself took some thought and time the worst and most difficult part was trying not to let it slip when I was in front of my Mom. We wanted to do a chalkboard and apples theme as the original thought was to go with maroon and blue (Unity School colors) wasn't all that original and we thought after 34 years of seeing maroon and blue she may not want to see anymore of it.  I think my favorite part of the party was watching my Mom chat with her former co-workers and laugh and talk about memories together. The best part was after the party when she got to open the gift we gave her.  I found this awesome voice quilt box on line and pitched the idea to Vicki who agreed it would be something mom would love.   If you want to look it up the website is http://www.voicequilt.com/. Anyways basically we had 7 days for all of the people we invited to the party to record their well wishes, memories, and congratulation messages and then it was put in a beautiful keepsake box for mom to have and listen to forever.  It was a difficult time to have a retirement party as it was right after Memorial Day weekend and several people were out of town and started their summer vacations...there were graduation parties galore and just overall a busy time...but we couldn't do it any later in June than we did as my sister, Lori is about to have her second baby in a few short weeks and we didn't want to get too close to her due date.  Over all it was a success and I could not be more excited for my Mom. She deserves a break-can't wait to hear what this new chapter in her life brings her.