After An Educator's Journey

Out of the classroom & into the universe

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Once upon a time, I taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. Now I’m retired and working on new ventures.
I taught second, third and fourth graders. Teaching was my passion and joy for 30 years. And it didn’t hurt that they called me “mom” sometimes.

Category: Post Retirement Life

  • If you plan to get old, read this

    NYT’s columnist Michelle Cottle’s Op-Ed from today (24 November) should be required reading for the adults in the room. I’ve gifted it at the end of this post. As the Trump Administration targets those workers who are willing to work in elder care, options and the care itself become limited. It will not matter whether…

  • Finding Joy in the Past

    Fun fact: In my youth and for much of my early adulthood, I was a musician. That was my identity: accompanist, pianist, music teacher. I don’t often speak of it because while I have an undergraduate degree in music, I wasn’t much driven to practicing or the discipline required to be a successful performer. However,…

  • The Last of July – Lowell’s Folk Festival

    It’s the last weekend in July, and for us, that means it’s time for Lowell’s celebration of diversity in music, food, and culture, Lowell Folk Festival. Adrien and I have been coming to Folk Festivals for decades. Even when we lived nearby, we’d come for a Saturday or Sunday of music and food. More recently,…

  • Ortygia: Puppets and Produce

    This part of our journey brought us to Siracusa on the eastern coast of Sicily. Our stay for this part of the tour was on the island of Ortygia. Connected to Siracusa by bridges, Ortygia is not only a tourist and shopping area, but is also a residential neighborhood. The sea was churning and so,…

  • Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples

    Even in March, before the heat of the summer comes to Sicily, the weather in Agrigento is hot and dry. Already the soil is dry and the sun is unrelenting. But we have come to this UNESCO site on this day to tour the Valle Dei Templi, the Valley of the Temples, and to visit the…

  • When Politics and Travel Intersect: Trapani

    Trapani is a beautiful seaside municipality on Sicily’s western coast. It borders the Tyrrhenian Sea, where the waters are an incredibly beautiful turquoise. On this leg of our tour as we were based in Trapani, we explored the wind-swept island of Mozia and the salt pans of Sicily, and we enjoyed a wonderful cooking demo…

  • Erice: The Formidable Maria Grammatico and the Town of One Hundred Churches

    There are several ways to get to the hilltop town of Erice. One is to take a Funivia or cable from Trapani. Another is to take a white knuckle drive and land at one of the town gates. But the third option – the one that is most enjoyable, is to stop partway to the…

  • In Segesta

    As we explored Sicily, the influence of those civilizations invading Sicily could be found everywhere. At the site of the ancient city of Segesta, the dominant evidence is of the ancient Greeks. Archaeological Park of Segesta is the site of both an ancient, but unfinished temple, and the site of a “small” Greek theater. The…

  • First Step: Get on the Plane

    Since Covid, I have long wanted to get back to travel. In the abstract I embrace it and its uncertainty; in reality, travel and planning intimidates me. In 2020, when we were both (nearly) retired, we were anticipating a trip to Ireland, our first overseas adventure since 2015. I have the travel books to prove…

  • In the Aftermath, What Comes Next?

    I was and I am devastated by the results of yesterday’s election. It appears that a person who to me represents all that we, as humans, should avoid is the selection to lead the United States. In case you missed it, I am including this clip from Jon Stewart. I think there is a lot…