Will You Shelve Your Own Book One Day?

Today was my last official day at Brunner School.  And that doesn't seem real.  And I don't know when it will. With colors low doesn't have the same ring to it. I cannot express how thankful I have been for the last 9 years at this school, and the out pouring of support that has come way as I prepare to leave. Back in June of 2010, I had another last day in that parking lot.  I was ending my first year as a school librarian, and it had been hard.  I remember barely feeling like I was holding my head above water most of the time.  My colleagues have always been wonderful, but I was new and inexperienced and there was no other person like me in the building I could talk too.  I had also been RIF'ed a month earlier, reduction in force, right before the teacher's appreciation luncheon at all times.  I didn't know that afternoon, as I stood with my assistant, Grace, if I would even have a job in the fall.  And that was scary.  Even though ...

So, I remember being very upset when I was in high school and the time came to pick out pictures to put in the yearbook that there were none of me wearing any University of Delaware pride wear.  Which makes sense, I had no childhood connection with the school or even the state, but it made things feel less destined. Well, when I was looking for a picture for tonight's Evening of Recognition, this felt right. I eat a little  more neatly today. Because I'm wearing a Cubs bib in this picture. Hey, Chicago, what do you say?

I am a person who uses Timehop. I don't know why I'm saying that like I should be embarrassed about it. Timehop is great at making me confused about how time works.  But honestly, I check it every morning (370 days and counting!) because it's nice to look back on things I've loved and to realize places I've grown. I don't remember what the context for this was, or the motivation.  There's not one exact moment I can pinpoint as when I officially decided to go back to school, and Timehop has not made it any more clear to me, so I don't even know if it was about that, or just like how you may sometimes wonder who would come to your funeral.   But in reading it, I do recall going shelf by shelf in the fiction section, doing inventory, and this thought and all its associated emotions passing through. I was there again today, making sure all of our chapter books were accounted for and orderly.  But this time I know I only have nine more days left. An...