one door closes…….

This week saw the end of my 23 year career as a primary school teacher.  That’s nearly half my life!!!!  And although I haven’t been in the school for 2 1/2 years now after my knee replacement surgery, it did hit me like a brick wall, knowing that I’m now ‘unemployed’/ ‘retired’/ ‘resigned’ or all of the above!  You see, my surgery went well, but after many, many years of surgery on the one knee, there’s not a lot left in there……and the constant demands of a primary school teacher (no…….we don’t AND CAN’T just sit on a chair and teach!!!) would have worn the joint out far quicker than it should….the doctor had to sacrifice stability for flexibility when he inserted the joint, so although it’s the best it can be, and you wouldn’t know I had a problem if you saw me, it doesn’t cope well with constant use, swelling and causing pain like you wouldn’t believe!  So……retirement was my only option.  (photo used from http://rozkwalker.com/identifying-strengths) It’s sad, considering I started ‘teaching’ when I was about 4 years old……lining up the dollies on the floor in front of my chalkboard easel………I have done other jobs since then, but it’s been in my blood and heart for a very long time!!!!  But when you’re told by a specialist that the joint will wear out in a couple of years with all that added pressure and more surgery could lead to the loss of my leg (I have big scars that have killed off nerves and skin tissue so the skin could die), no ‘career’ is worth the risk. So, it was with sadness I resigned on Wednesday and closed the door on that chapter of my life…. BUT…. one door closes………another opens…….. and on Wednesday…… My very first ‘published’ design arrived on my doorstep in this magazine…….. So there’s no sadness….it’s onward and upward!  My skills as a teacher won’t go to waste…….more designing in magazines and in my Craftsy shop……..and who knows what else is in store!!!!!  All I can say is I’m excited to open that door and walk right on through …..can’t wait to see what’s in there!!! Don’t forget it’s FNSI tonight….if you haven’t already signed up……you can sign up HERE.  And I forgot to mention in all my excitement……the prize!!!!  My good friend Anthea over at Hibiscus Stitches has donated the four, gorgeous fat quarters for this month’s prize and I found the sweetest (hee hee hee…pardon the pun)  little notebook and clipboard to jot down all the plans you have for FNSI’s to come!!!  So make sure you’re signed up and ready to go…..I’m starting early today….got soooo much to do!!!! And just remember…..it’s Friday Night somewhere in the world *wink*, so you can join in whatever time/day it is….so long as you post about it by Sunday!   I’ll do the draw on Monday to take into account our participants overseas! Soooooo looking forward to it! Sugary hugs :o) xox