Retirement! After 4o years working as a bookkeeper and 28 of it at our church as the parish bookkeeper, I am retiring. A few years ago I was having some health issues and I decided it was time to start planning for my exit. There were just way too many things that I wanted to do and never seemed to have the time.
It is difficult to describe my emotions concerning retirement. On one hand I am excited, I finally will have the time to spend all day making pottery, or sewing or gardening or cooking or writing in this blog and not need to worry that tomorrow I will need to go back to the office and the laundry won’t be done or the furniture won’t be dusted or the floors won’ t be swept.
On the other hand, I will be sad to be leaving a job I love and people I love. I began at the church when my eldest daughter began kindergarten, she is now in her 30’s and just had her first child. I have seen so many changes in nearly 30 years, new pastors and associate pastors. Each with their distinct personalities, and I learned much about our faith from each one.
This year three of us from the office either will retire or have already retired. My dear, dear friend Mary, she and I shared an office for several years and many confidences about our children and husbands. She has the most conviction about her faith of anyone I know, and I have grown in my faith because of her. Sweet Clarene, who can remember what someone ate for dinner and what they were wearing from 30 years ago, and has the simple faith of a child. These women became my sisters we have laughed and cried together so many times. There are new faces in the office now and I have come to love them too, although they are more my children’s ages than mine.
Not sure what I will do first, I’m sure it will take me a week or two to grow accustomed to not going to work everyday. It will be tough but, I am equal to the task.
Suzannah's World 