Something New

I've decided to try something NEW! Something I've never ever done before! There's something fresh and different on the Horizon. I'm not going back to the cave this next summer as an interpretive park ranger. I'm hanging up my flat hat. Instead, I'm going to try my hand at being a stay-at-home WIFE! You know, just for ten weeks, during summer vacation. And it won't really be ten whole weeks because teachers are required to do a lot of stuff in the summer.

My husband has never known me not to have two jobs. Two overlapping jobs which gets a litle intense every spring and fall. Jobs that are mentally and physically exhausting. He's been a good sport. He would never prevent me from choosing what I want. Well, I want a break. I want a breather. So I'm going to take one.

Don't get me wrong. I know that being a stay-at-home wife is a very demanding role, especially if one does it well. I'm really not thinking I'll be at the pool every day without a care in the world. I'm thinking other things. I'll let you know later how it goes.

Prior to becoming a National Park Ranger, I did volunteer work. I was a teacher at Summer Clear Creek for two summers. I tutored students. I'm not about to get lazy or anything. I'll find something worthwhile to do and I'll probably start with cleaning out the silverware drawer.

For a decade now, teachers have been asking, "How do you do it? Aren't you tired?" They exclaim, "I need my summer. I could never do what you do." One person said, "You should enjoy your summer." She meant that I wasn't enjoying my summers because I was working full time. Well, I HAVE enjoyed my summers! Every. Single. One. I love that cave and all the rangers and all that I've learned and the general public. I have loved it all. So I don't want anyone thinking I wasn't having fun. Parts of every job are difficult, however, it was the fun parts that took me back year after year. If I ever gave the impression that someone was forcing me to work there, I apologize. Not going back is one of the most difficult things I've ever decided. In fact, I feel sorry for all of you that will never be able to say that you were a Timp Cave Ranger. You'll never know the secret. I will miss my litle hat spot in the backroom of the VC and I will resent (jk) the ranger who takes on my radio call number. But I will love, Love, LOVE spending more time with my husband!

Husband. THE VERY BEST GIFT out of all the gifts I received from that old cave. I am really looking forward to seeing him on a daily basis again. When he first went to the Spike, it was "for just one year" and I was already underway at the cave, so I stayed on. We never knew if he would be renewed for another year or get another job somewhere else or when they would next advertise his position or how many Veterans would apply and so, inch by inch, we kept making these decisions until now we're staring at the last six months of his four year term.

Now you know my plan. However, people's plans change all the time and I don't have to answer to you. Maybe I WILL go back to the cave or get a job somewhere else or take a lot of classes or spend my days at the pool. Perhaps I'll never clean out the silverware drawer afterall. I'll let you know.