Onward and Upward to New Adventures
Retirement. Oh, I do not like that word, and I never did!
The first thing I did when I “retired” from 22 years as an educator in the Dallas ISD School District was tear up my DISD calling cards and replace them with new, fresh, colorful ones.
Besides my pertinent information, I added: Refreshed, Renewed, Refocused.
Growing up in what now is called “Old East Dallas,” I learned a great work ethic watching my parents own and manage our Italian grocery store. We even lived behind it in an attached house.
So, stopping work was not an option for me when I left teaching.
So, since I left my classroom in 2008, I’ve gone on one adventure after another.
My husband and I planned for our 2nd Act so we could travel and see the world. Since 2011, we’ve been to some fantastic locations.
First, we traveled with family to Sicily, where we walked in the footsteps of my immigrant grandparents on both sides of the family. We spent 16 refreshing days exploring my roots. On our next trip, we went on to Sorrento, Florence, and Rome.
For the last nine years, we have traveled across the United States, and to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Austria, and British Columbia. We are planning more trips to Canada, hopefully soon.
Being that my first love is art, I’ve taken some oil painting and watercolor classes for art teachers in the Dallas area. Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Through my paintings, I refocused and have allowed my inner child to come out.
I had always wanted to be in a book club to share the love of reading with others. But teaching took up so much of my time for so many years, I could not commit to a formal group’s reading demands.
In 2010, two years after I retired from teaching, I renewed my own passion for reading and started my own book club called “The Chik~Litz.” We are in our tenth year, together. Between all this — and spending time with my precious grandchildren, church activities, gardening, and even a needlework finishing business — there is never a dull moment in my life! I have a very supportive husband, and we both embrace our life and adventures.
I have decided my 2nd Act will be filled with passion, faith, and a willingness to work hard at what I choose to do now. You can too!
