Acidosis

It's been a while since leaving a post.  Gearing up for the large group music festival, working with clinicians and absent students has taken up too much time.  The end of the year is always the busiest with concerts, festivals and grades.  It doesn't help that some seniors think they should check out of all responsibility months before school is over.  

All health issues are on track.  The cancer is undetectable.  GVHD is making an appearance wherever it can.  The latest is lactic acidosis caused by a somewhat failing liver.  If I ignore the symptoms, I'm hoping the disease will get frustrated and just go away.  It's like a battle of stubborn will.  The disease is persistent but so am I. 

So many teachers who retire focus on justifying their retirement.  I think that means they are not quite sure about leaving their work of a lifetime.  There is plenty of justification in Alaska right now.  The economy is bad and getting worse.  Funding for education is getting cut primarily due to poor oil prices and production.  Even if things were booming, I don't plan to look back.  It's time to shift gears and work on something else.  I'll miss the students but not the stress and the worry and focus on the job at all hours.  My next job will end at the end of the work day.