getting close

So a lot of things are coming to an end here shortly and while some of it is familiar, other aspects are a bit on the unknown side. It got me to thinking about what changes my life is about to undergo and how that will affect me. In the next 60 days, I'm set up for quite a bit of "newness" and I feel like I'm ready for it. Good thing I've been in the process of getting myself ready for change in the last few decades of my life!

First up, my first year here at school will come to an end in about 2 weeks. I've been fortunate enough to land a job at a super school and while I do love my summer vacations, I am not eager for the year to be over. There have been plenty of years where I have counted down the days with my students in anticipation of the summer break but this year is definitely not one of them. I love my job and find myself teaching in what appears to be the perfect school for me. My kids are amazing and the people whom I work with are also pretty darn good as well. I think I've struck it rich here and I'm not so anxious to end the year. That's what happens when you like your job, right?

Shortly after school gets out, I embark on a venture that has been a long time in the making - marriage. I spent the last 20+ years being single and after years and years of searching, I've found a woman who I want to share my life with. While those years of being a bachelor had some advantages, I am looking forward to the prospect of starting something new. The last few decades of being single have been nice but the time to end that part of my life is almost over. I know there will be ups and downs in this long-term arrangement but I am ready to start this chapter in my life.

The future wife and I have also been looking at houses here in ABQ. I've never owned a house before so the prospect of not renting sounds like a great one to me. I can knock out walls, plant a garden, paint whatever color I like - all without having to ask permission. It also doesn't escape me that we will be responsible for all the repair and upgrade costs that go into home ownership but I want to take it on. The days of making payments for a place I can't build up equity in are almost over! Soon after the wedding we hope to get our first house and while it is a bit scary, I'm ready for the challenges it will bring.

As the summer winds down and school gets back into session, another landmark event will occur. The end of my 30's is not something I was truly looking forward to but hitting 40 doesn't seem like such a bad thing. I'm in decent physical shape, I'm active and mentally sound, and I've got a good medical system to support me. While many think that 40 was the beginning of the end and it is all downhill from that age, I disagree and think my 40's will be a great decade for me. I'll post in another 10 years and let you know how the reflection of that works out. ;-)

Last and certainly not least, I expect that my days of being without a child are just about over. The future wife and I have discussed the plans to start working on a family soon after our marriage and with a bit of luck, the birthday will come shortly before our announcement of starting a family (and hopefully the gap between the two will be very short!). I have known for years that I've wanted to be a father and now the prospect of being one has me excited. The stories of the first few years do have me a bit worried but if everyone else can survive it, I think I'll manage as well. Send me happy thoughts though, I'm sure I'll need it.

After all of that, I believe a cycle will begin again and the school year will start over. Volleyball will get into swing, the kids will grumble as they make their way back to school, and the temps will start to drop as summer wanes and fall wanders into New Mexico. But what a summer it should be!