This is not a thank you speech though there is so much to thank you for - the cards, the letters, the quilt, the home-made dinners, the Price Chopper certificates. I am so blown away by your generosity. It has had a profound impact on me.
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No this speech comes out of a life altering experience that I need to share with you. In all the literature you read when you get cancer it says it will make you re-think your priorities, gain new insight - yeah yeah yeah.
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Then in May a friend of mine walked out of a 15 year old dead end relationship. She told my husband it was because of what happened to me. Life is too short to spend it going nowhere or worse hating where you are. Wow, I felt responsible for that.
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The second thing that happened is I realized I love what I do. I love being the librarian. I knew I couldn’t be here - especially on the days I could hardly lift my head off the pillow - You know there are more Raymour and Flanigan commercials than anything else on TV. I wanted to be here to show the kids that Shrek was a book before it was a movie. I want them to know that you need to know your fairy tale characters. They are part of our culture.
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I don’t think I romanticized my job too much while I was gone - though I was on some pretty powerful drugs - I also remember the days when 5th graders come in and ask “Are the non-fiction the made up stories?”
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I guess what these experiences have taught me is if you love what you do - great. If you don’t get out - even if it is a 15 year old relationship. Maybe you don’t need to get out all together. Maybe you are just sick of 9th grade. Change grade levels. I know you are thinking - “But I have all my plans”. Let me tell you - Your plans are hanging by a thread. I had plans too.
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Maybe teaching is a dead-end relationship for you. Then get out. I’m not saying this for the sake of the students or colleagues. I’m saying this for you. LIFE IS TOO SHORT.
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So you won’t hear me complain about what I do. Oh I’m sure I’ll complain about some of our problems unique to Berne. We have some good ones. But I’m coming in happy and grateful everyday because watching those Raymour and Flanigan commercials taught me whats important.
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