Last Day

When I first started working at my place of employment as an intern, the catch-phrase among the other employees was "you never know what's going to happen today." And they were very true words. For an ADD-addled brain like mine, it was the perfect job. Any given day could start with teaching 100 kids in the morning, organzing old photos or artifacts in the afternoon, and pulling weeds or cleaning bathrooms before leaving. And I loved all of it.

I loved the view of the capitol dome in the morning. I loved knowing the backstory of just about every artifact in the museum. I loved dressing up like a turn-of-the-century schoolmarm and teaching math on slates and reading from McGuffey readers. I almost always enjoyed historic house tours ("don't touch" MEANS "don't touch," people!). And most of all, I enjoyed my co-workers. Between the necessary cutbacks on what I can and can't do as my due date approaches, not to mention all the belt-tightening most museums are having to do by necessity across the U.S.; I know that the timing for me to leave was perfect on all fronts. Right now, my focus needs to be on my coming baby and on my older children as well. I do not doubt that I will eventually have another job outside the home. Given that I now have experience and good references, it may even pay more. But I doubt I will ever love any job as much as I loved this one. It was a great 3 years and I will miss it.