My oldest grandchildren turned 11 in January and February. Right now (because my birthday is not until October), I am six times older than P and E. That got me thinking about where the past 55 years have gone, what I was doing at that age, and how I got to where I am today.

At age 11, I played with Barbies with my friends on my block. We weren’t “rich” enough to have Barbie houses, but boy, did we make some great ones on our own with things we found around our homes. I was also reading the Nancy Drew books the “older” girls around the corner had gifted me.

At age 22, I was married to my high school sweetheart and pregnant with my first child. I was teaching music part-time and establishing our first home.

At age 33, I had two elementary school-aged children and was working full-time as a music teacher.

At age 44, I had a child in college and one in high school. I was still teaching music and would soon begin pursuing my master’s degree in English.

At age 55, I had recently survived the closing of the school I had taught in for 23 years and began a new teaching job at a newly formed regional school. I gave up my music teaching career and was teaching ELA only.

At age 66, I am still married to my high school sweetheart. I have survived two knee replacements, gall bladder removal, and two cataract surgeries. I am in my 39th year of teaching and signed on for at least one more.

Those multiples of eleven seem like yesterday and yet so long ago. I will never be six times P and E again, but I hope to be making memories with them for many years.

#SOLC 25 Day 6/31