Looking Forward to It

It has become common practice to sit back at the end of any given year and ponder the events and circumstances of what transpired. There are, of course, many memories that pop into the brain – instances of great happiness, sadness, frustration, anxiety, annoyance, excitement and satisfaction. Reflection, however, always seems to lead to more reflection; and when asked to reflect on 2011 my thoughts turn to all the years prior to it, and I end up lost in thoughts of “How did I get here?”

Both of my parents retired this year. They both retired from teaching. Combined, they taught for over 95 years – my mother for 44 and my father for 51. They taught a little in public schools, but for the most part they taught in private schools. My father taught at a school for the learning disabled. He did not do it for the money, neither of my parents did – they did it to give back. When asked to speak at his retirement party, he recalled one of his teachers when he was in fourth grade telling him to stop and slow down and concentrate on one thing. It was this teacher that helped him overcome his learning disability – and it was this teacher’s lessons that he hoped he had passed on to his students.

My mother worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and taught underprivileged kids in Atlanta in the early ‘60s. She also worked in Indianapolis with the less fortunate, and Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps, visited her classroom. She taught fourth grade, ran a library, and worked as an administrator, among many other responsibilities. Now, despite her retirement, she still volunteers at the local school and reads and works with first grade kids.

I never had either of my parents preside over me in a classroom, but I have heard stories from their students. They all share common themes. They all tell of the patience that my parents had for each one of them, and they all knew that my parents would always expect the best out of them. Simple lessons repeated over and over create good habits: follow through, question everything, raise expectations, never quit and always put your best foot forward.

When I broached the idea of starting a newspaper in Door County in 1995, my parents responded quite simply – “Sounds like an interesting idea, we are looking forward to seeing it.” It was not stated skeptically – more matter of fact. I took it as a subtle challenge then. Now, 17 years later, I understand their response more than ever. Ideas are the easy part and, often times, too quickly rewarded. It is passing the test of time. It is showing up every day and doing your best under whatever the circumstances may be.

Another year has passed, and in looking back I find hope for the future. We are all defined by our habits, our choices and our occupations. My parents did not view teaching as just a job; it is what they did, and it is who they are. They have not asked me directly what I think about their retirement after so many years of working. If they did, I might say something like “Sounds like an interesting idea, I am looking forward to seeing what you make of it.”