Well, isn't THIS just a pip?

Over a year since I posted here. Many, many changes. First, I'm "retired." I write that with quotation marks because I'm not really "retired," as in giving it UP -- far from it. I'm "retired" -- forcibly and with much negativity and administrative harassment -- from teaching after 31 years because administrators decided they didn't need a credentialed music program. Translate that: other priorities, I made too much money (ha!), and politics. Big time politics. All out of my control, which was difficult to accept and still reigns as a major resentment. I'm working on it. So how do I actually FEEL about this? I'm THRILLED. Time -- MY time. Time to read, to sleep, to lose the damned alarm clock if I want to. Time to pet the Siamese, time to declutter and simplify and design a home environment and a LIFE that I want. Finally. And -- here we go -- time to write. Second, we lost our wonderful Aramis to kidney failure. I am forever in the debt of this wonderful, wise, loving friend. We miss him each and every day, in more ways than I can ever express, but the girls and I are getting better and setting new daily life patterns. I wish he were here to enjoy this new-found freedom of mine -- and perhaps he is in spirit. I sure hope so. Third, I'm HAPPY. Not yet settled into this new life, but I'm getting there and -- I repeat -- I'm HAPPY. And grateful.