Turning in My Keys

Post date: Jul 7, 2016 8:29:12 PM

Blog Post: Turning in my Keys and Moving on with Life!

So many rituals and transitions in life are marked by handling concrete items. We exchange rings when we marry; we give gifts and are given party favors at birthday parties; we are often handed car keys when we get our Driver’s license; when hired, we are given keys (or a key card) to our office, a parking tag, and other items. Last week I went out to Hawkeye to submit my reimbursement form for attending the recent Writer’s Workshop—and turned in my parking tag and office keys. I expected it to feel “final,” and instead found it almost anticlimactic!

I walked over to my old hallway in the Upper Library Building and visited several teachers who were either working on summer classes or doing preparation for fall. It suddenly occurred to me that it was the first time that I could not go into my old office because I had given back my key. I took home all of my personal items back in May, so there is nothing there I need. However, I stood by my office door and took a selfie with the sign on my door, realizing that in a few weeks two new teachers would be moving into my old space and making it their own.

After 20 years plus, my only office is the one here at home, which is set up on our large four season porch. I have high-speed internet, a PC and printer, and much more room to work here than I ever had at college. However, I am still fighting clutter. I’ve been bringing things home for the past year, and already got rid of most of my textbooks and files. But I am not done, and have spent time during the past few weeks sorting out things to give away or discard; ironically, even with so much focus on digital assets, I find that I still have a lot of paper clutter! I have been going through my work email as well, finding attached documents and photos that I forwarded to my home email.

Yesterday I drove down to see family in Marshalltown and delivered two boxes of office supplies to my nephew, Dave, who pastors my home church. Under his leadership, the church adopted a nearby elementary school without a PTA, and I know that whatever he cannot use will go to those teachers. Getting rid of five clipboards was almost more of a big deal than turning in my keys: I remember coming back in August one year and a friend confessing that she broke into my office over the summer to borrow a dozen clipboards for an event because she didn’t know anyone else who had that many!

As I continue to declutter and organize my workspace, and start working on my next writing projects, I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I know that I will miss interacting with students, but I am also excited about taking my writing to the next level. I may have turned in my office keys, but I hope that retirement opens many more doors.

Last Updated July 7, 2016