I’m a pre-re-semi- retiree.

Speaking of Labor Day- A day dedicated to the working class until they ‘retire’…. Let’s break it down:

Pre- prior to

Re- anew; re- “a drop of golden sun”

Semi- partly or somewhat

Tired- overworked, broken down, enfeebled

So, is a re-tired person the opposite of tired?  Somewhat? Anew? Prior to being “sapped and worn to a frazzle?”

Leave it to a thesaurus to feel “refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed, rested, revitalized”.. re-tired?

The thing is I don’t feel retired.  I still feel like a teacher/ student. (I have not received my “retirement” checks after 29.4 years of teaching, so no data to show as of yet).  But I dew feel re-newed, sort of- I don’t feel the taxation of administration.  I don’t wake up stressed and burdened with meaningless meetings on top of weighty student discomfort. 

And I never wake up NOT thinking about school and the education system and my beloved students who have endured far too much discomfort necessary for fulfillment, eudiamonia, or even moderate solace.  More serenity in an already hurly-burly world iso eager to appease. 

I am re-tired.  More awake.  A pre-re.  The opposite of a preemie, something born prematurely,  a pre-re is something acquired late. Postmortem.  Like a ghost, I wish to whisper cautionary tales to those unsullied in education as of yet… 

It seems like the name of the game is retirement.  “Once I retire I will______.”  Problem is we become so conditioned we don’t know what to do with the time once we have it.  Yes? Buying our way to some sort of deliverance from what- life?

Once Friday is here then my life will improve.  No? Ok, how about the next holiday! Not yet? Surly next year will reign supreme.  Still no?  What about when you graduate, get married, get a job, have kids, wait for kids to walk, talk, and eventually leave.  Get a house, buy a car, get that promotion, lose weight, get buff.  Essentially,  live for the next corner until the coroner. Isn’t that what we are doing?  Selling sanctuary when it is here all along.  

Wait for retirement- and enjoy being really-tired until then, you know, when you are old and more naturally tired and ‘enfeebled’. Then, and only then, closer to death, we can be “happy”?