Kathy is off for another year of first grade at the Episcopal school where she teaches. Before school is out next spring she will be seventy.
Two years ago was her "last year." Last year was her "absolutely last year." This year she is adamant that she will retire next spring. Her reason (excuse?) is that her headmistress has asked her to stay and help her get through re-acreditation. She has always said that when Una (the headmistress) goes, she will go also, and Una is retiring as well, so Kathy may really mean it this time. She is one of those rare, lucky people who is doing exactly what she was meant to do. Parents at this big-ticket day school clamor to get their kids in her class. Kimberly has been seeing a dermatologist for years who refues to charge us, because the woman insists that she owes Kathy so much for what she did for her son. Kathy considers her specialty to be to infuse first-graders with an excitement about reading and a love of books, and she is very good at it.
It has been my privilege to be with this remarkable woman for 41 years. Now we will see if she can endure going from life with a room full of six year olds to constantly being around me. If she can handle the decline in maturity level, we might just make it.
Two years ago was her "last year." Last year was her "absolutely last year." This year she is adamant that she will retire next spring. Her reason (excuse?) is that her headmistress has asked her to stay and help her get through re-acreditation. She has always said that when Una (the headmistress) goes, she will go also, and Una is retiring as well, so Kathy may really mean it this time. She is one of those rare, lucky people who is doing exactly what she was meant to do. Parents at this big-ticket day school clamor to get their kids in her class. Kimberly has been seeing a dermatologist for years who refues to charge us, because the woman insists that she owes Kathy so much for what she did for her son. Kathy considers her specialty to be to infuse first-graders with an excitement about reading and a love of books, and she is very good at it.
It has been my privilege to be with this remarkable woman for 41 years. Now we will see if she can endure going from life with a room full of six year olds to constantly being around me. If she can handle the decline in maturity level, we might just make it.
I am thankful of her patience... I know my place though (why it works I guess) ...if something heavy needs lifting or something needs killing I am the first person she thinks of. 
