Thursday, December 5, 2013

December Challenges -Day 5



Today Jamie asks us to share 10 things about ourselves.

1. My first home was on Cambridge St. in Winnipeg 61 years ago and I now live in Cambridge.

2. Between these 2 places,  I have moved over 25 times.  The longest place I lived in was a small place near Lindsay for 20 years. I moved from Winnipeg to Montreal( lived there 5 years and moved 3 x)  to Toronto (12 years, moved 5x)  to Ottawa (3 years,moved 4 x)  to Kingston (1 year, 1 place)  to the NWT (3 years. 1 place) back to Toronto (1 year, 1 place) to Alberta (3 years, moved 6 times)  and to Pontypool (20 years, 2 moves) and now to Cambridge (9 years, 2 moves).

3. I remarried at age 50 in 2002.

4. I have 3 children and 5 stepchildren (3 with my present husband)  and 8 step-grandkids (5 with my present husband)

5. I donated a kidney to my husband in 2003 - he has had it now for 10 years and is doing well.

6. I finally retired after 36 years in education at the end of June. All I ever wanted to be was a teacher.

7. I love reading and have waaaaay  too many books. I am trying to read what is on my shelves but I am too tempted by new books. That is my addiction.

8. I have returned to creating and writing and now have the time to pursue them.

9. I drive but I have a real fear of driving on major 400 series highways or going places I have never been. I have never had a panic attack - I just won't (or can't) drive.

10. I love tea and hate coffee. Unfortunately I love treats with my tea - something I am trying to change.








Kat asks us:

What was the greatest risk you took in 2013? What was the outcome?

For me the biggest risk was retiring. It took me a long time to make the decision. I knew I loved teaching but it was getting to be physically a challenge everyday. The arthritis in my knees caused pain everyday and since I cannot take anti-inflammatories, I usually just bore it.
I knew we would have been better off financially if I had worked another year or two but a few things swung the decision to that June:
* a close friend had just lost her sister that winter. Joanne was 62 and a teacher
*the upcoming class for September that I would most likely get was a definite challenge
*new principal, new challenges
*I was getting tired and I felt I was just not as effective as I once was

So I retired and I am glad I did. The pain is still there and I miss teaching every day, but I am writing more and creating more and I can pursue other interests when I want. Hopefully, finances will be okay for us in the future.

11 comments:

Janet said...

Thanks for sharing! My sister was a teacher. She always thought I should be one too but it wasn't my thing. What a wonderful thing to donate your kidney! Glad it is working well for him. Have a wonderful day.

Marianne said...

I love that you gave a kidney to your husband. I am having fun getting to know everyone a bit more.

Marianne said...

I love that you gave a kidney to your husband. I am having fun getting to know everyone a bit more.

Dale Anne Potter said...

THANKS for sharing Bev!
AWESOME that you donated your kidney...as a one kidney person, I honour you!

Moonbeam said...

Ah, books! It seems most of us have an addiction to books! =) I think it is amazing that you gave a kidney to your husband. You both are truly connected. Beautiful!

JenT said...

Wow, a kidney to your husband! Love all your "things about me". So fun to read.

Kat McNally said...

Wishing for you a joyful retirement. x

Unknown said...

We have a few things in common. I have moved about 20 times, I also love to read (I have hundreds of books but keep buying new ones because they sound so interesting), I grew up in Winnipeg (still work and live there during the week, but I consider I live in rural MB now). Nice to meet you here.

Kara Chipoletti Jones of GriefAndCreativity dot com said...

wow, how fascinating that you gave a kidney to your hubby! Beautiful. Sharing on all levels :) I'm sorry to hear there's been sadness since you left teaching, but lovely to hear you are creating again now that you have more time. I do all my teaching online now...a program I co-founded with a friend. Don't know if you've ever thought about something like that?? Maybe creating an online course? A way to marry creating and teaching in a way that is still on your own terms, your own schedule and stuff. ?? I've been scoping out CourseCraft.net as a possible new platform for some of my own stuff...it's pretty easy to use and it's free to make an account and experiment. Just thought to share the idea. < 3

GraceGal said...

Wow Beverly you have a pretty fascinating story. No wonder you are returning to writing.
We do have a lot in common. Thanks for visiting my blog (wingsOpen). I'm a tea drinker too! Although I sneak in a Dunkin Donuts decaf ice coffee with caramel almond occasionally . Happy reading!

Jerilyn said...

I am happy you retired :) It agrees with you. Plus I get to see you a lot more! You are an amazing person and an even better Mom. Love you :)