Today is Emancipation Day to commemorate those who were freed from slavery.
Emancipation has another meaning, that of liberation typically from a legal, social or political restriction. When my husband and I decided to retire as longtime public school employees we hadn’t been aware that the day we selected, August 1, 2021, that we termed our “emancipation” day was actually already memorialized as the day to remember those who had been enslaved.
Reading the news this morning about emancipation made me realize this was an extra special day to celebrate freedom!
For those of you who follow my blog you know my life often has some odd coincidences occur. Someone told me that happens to me because I tell everyone I know about the weird situations so they just keep coming. I guess the theory is that by talking and writing about them I become a magnet for more. I don’t know about that but I do think this is kind of strange… Friday, March 13, 2020 was my last day working onsite at a school. The following day I was supposed to be volunteering at a library with my local genealogy society to help patrons with their brick walls. The event was cancelled at the last minute because of covid-19. Although the monthly meetings and trainings moved to Zoom, the brick wall event was not rescheduled until yesterday. Friday, July 30 happened to be my last day forever in education and the following day, the brick wall event which was supposed to be back at the library got moved to Zoom because I live in the fasted growing covid area in the country.
Too bad we couldn’t meet in person as it would have been a wonderful bookend of the beginning and termination of the pandemic.
Although I’m leaving the K-12 education field permanently, I’m definitely not abandoning genealogy. I’ll continue to blog, consult with clients, volunteer at my local historical society and provide research. Due to my termination contract, I’m unable to “teach” for the next year in any capacity but plan to return to genealogical lectures eventually.
In addition to spending more time on genealogy, I plan to invest time in my local community. Due to my previously long commute I was never able to do that. I plan on volunteering at my local hospital and with other community events.
Hubby and I are so looking forward to this next chapter in our lives. It is a privilege having you continue to follow my blog as I head off in a new direction. Stay tuned for my new adventures!