: About Me

I recently retired from teaching high school English in a suburban, Blue Ribbon school. I started when education stressed learning, the middle child, relating the work to the kids. This was all across the board: academically and administratively. We enjoyed and respected each other. These beliefs held through the changing hairstyles of the 80's and the early 90's. Then something changed. With this change came rules and more rules. Laws and more laws. Tests and No Child Left Behind. And more tests. Every year. Every single year. Creativity? No time. Relating a lesson, a unit to the students? The suits said it was not important. After 9/11 the requirement of the administration was simply for the students to "do good on the tests." (A real administrative quote!) Additonally, to the chagrin of some, it was not important for a Blue Ribbon School to monitor its school-wide memos for proper spelling, punctuation or grammar. When I objected and offered to proofread for the administration I was told it was "obnoxious" for me to correct the suits.

What happened to the enjoyment of education? No time.

Of learning? Not important.

Of basic standards? What standards?

So, I am retired (due to a disability) with a lousy percent of my pension.

My husband and I recently opened an antique and collectible shop (a lifelong dream!) and are struggling with the rest of the country to keep our financial heads above water. My children are wonderful and just beginning their journeys. Overall, retirement, and life in general, is wonderful!

Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: What do you want to be when you grow up

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Whenever I meet someone new, I ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It is a fun way to start a conversation and an interesting way to get to know someone. The best answer I ever got was, "I want to be a porn star." I almost stopped asking the question after that one but I enjoy people's reaction and it often prompts a revealing discussion. I wanted to be an antique dealer. My house is full of all sorts of collections: red handled kitchen utensils, Pyrex bowls, Kewpie dolls, pencil sharpeners, binoculars, photos of people I don't know, Boyd's bears, old bottles, old cameras and m...

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