A different identify
When I had a dog, I loved being a dog-owner. Besides missing my hiking-traveling-frisbee-road-trip-backpacking companion, when I had to put my dog to sleep, it was strangest to get use to not being a ‘dog-owner’ any more. For so long, I had a been a ‘dog-owner’. That was who I was. I was the person who went home to walk my dog. I was the person who took their dog hiking. I was a person with a dog. And then… suddenly, I wasn’t. I was a bit lost those first couple of weeks. Who was I? What was my new identity?
Right now, I kind of feel that way. The school year is over. No more teaching, no more grading, no more planning and rushing to the copier first thing in the morning to prep for class. No more 5:15 runs going over the lesson plans in my head. That has been my identity for the past 5 years. Teacher. Renaissance. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am quite alright to not have any more grading. But, now the question is – what is my new identity?
traveler? explorer? itinerant? vagabond? wanderer?
Two months until departure. Just sayin’…..
You’ll be fine. I will be with you in spirit. You are whatever you want to be–and it’s all fine.
This year I adopted after years of not having a dog. It was just too hard to enter into another dog friendship after losing my dog. I volunteered at the shelter for a few years but never connected, except this spring: I just dropped in to Dakin Shelter for a visit and I met my dog. I spent the afternoon with him and knew he was the one for our house — shared with my son and his friend and our cats. You can see our new dog, Morris, at the Library Hotline site @ http://renaissancelibrary.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/wolframalpha-its-not-just-math/. Someday, another dog may enter your life. Until then, embrace the open road and freedom. tp
I’ll be thinking of you while I’m standing around the broken copier machine in the morning….
ha! yeah, you’re right lise! i will not miss that!