Summer Sale.

When I was in KC for Mother's Day, my family, unanimously, encouraged me to go ahead and put my house on the market.  I don't retire from Parkland until the end of December, so if my house sells this summer, I'll need to rent somewhere in Champaign (easier said than done when you bring a little Jack Russell Terrier along).

But here I go.  What the hell.  Everything is a chance at this point of my life.  Stay positive.  Do a little bit (like packing) at a time.  Know in your heart that everything will work out.

    

Last Dance.

Tonight is Parkland's Commencement Ceremony.  The keynote will be given by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, Leonard Pitts.

Even though I don't work directly with Parkland's credit-earning students, I usually "walk" in the ceremony with my faculty colleagues, wearing our caps and gowns.  And every time I do, I'm touched by the power of the event.  Our community college graduates often are first-generation college students.  The event center is packed to the rafters with families and friends (and lots of crying babies).

After the ceremony, a few of us, including the college president, will head over to a local bar and raise our glasses to another successful year.

This will be my last graduation at Parkland.

Here's to what's next.
Cheers.

My Generations.

My 97 year old and so beautiful, Aunt Charlotte, with her grandson-in-law and two of her great-grandsons.

Family.  Home.  Love.

The Long Goodbye.

This afternoon was another retiree event, a very nice luncheon.  The college president was there, as were three of the VPs, three members of the Board of Trustees, and several faculty, staff, and family.

The retirees received plaques, a gift, and a chance to say a few words.  What I said is basically in the remarks I wrote for the event program:

I started at Parkland in January 1994.  Not everyone knows this, but I worked with former Parkland President, Zelema Harris, when she was a community college president in Kansas City, my hometown.  Anyway, I was living in Boulder, Colorado, doing freelance writing.  I wanted to get back into higher ed and I contacted Dr. Harris to ask if she’d write me a reference letter.  She told me that a job was opening up at Parkland but she didn’t think I’d leave Boulder for Champaign.  Boy, did I ever fool her!

I’ve had the privilege of serving in different roles during my tenure at Parkland:  Director of Marketing, Executive Assistant to the President, Director of Community Education, and a few I can’t recall at the moment.   Looks like I couldn’t keep a job, but thankfully, Parkland kept me.

Without hesitation, the best thing about Parkland for me is the people who work here.  My life has been blessed with wonderful colleagues.  I must give special thanks to Sandra Boileau and Carol Steinman who took me under their wings when I first arrived and have been there for me through good and bad times.

I’m excited about starting the next chapter of my life.  Parkland has been the biggest part of my life for the past 20 years and I know how lucky I am.  I thank the Board of Trustees for their continuing support and kindness to me; I thank Dr. Zelema Harris for mentoring me and believing in me; I thank my current boss and longtime friend, Dr. Linda Moore, for her amazing calmness, dry humor and brilliance, and I thank President Tom Ramage for leading Parkland with a 21^st century vision and for always making me feel like I can make a difference.

It's been a great ride.  Moving forward now.

            

Hello, my name is Jan.

I know a lot of people in Champaign.  My job, Director of Community Education, helps.  I serve on boards and committees and I get to "schmooze" people, all in the name of promoting our college's programs.

Oh, yeah, I eat breakfast at the same time, same restaurant, seven days a week.  And I see the same faces and, without too much effort, I've become part of a "community."

Now I'm preparing to leave my job of twenty years (via retirement) and head back to the town where I was born and raised.  As far as I can tell, the folks I've come to know and mostly like here in Champaign are not making the move with me.

Do I start over?  Guess I'll have to.  Funny, but the first thing I want to do when I move is find a place to eat breakfast every morning.  Really.  There's something about showing up at the same place and becoming a "regular" that makes you feel like you belong.

Then I want to make connections.  I already know some folks in Kansas City and I have family there.  I went to college there, too.  How about if I roam around my old college campus, visit the library where I spent so many hours studying, see if there are some classes I could take?

One thing is certain: I have to stay busy or this whole move will be a disaster.  I will fall into deep depression and I won't have my therapist along for the ride (she retired and moved away, too).

Volunteer?  Where? Human Rights Campaign is big in KC.  I'm a Library Trustee in Champaign with a master's degree in Library & Information Technology.  I'd love to do something at the library.  Check it out. Who do I know who works at KC libraries?

"Hello, my name is Jan."

That's good for starters.      
  

Jurassic Park.

"Thanks for Jurassic Park."

That's what she wrote on my "Happy Retirement" poster/card.  Do you remember, she asked?

I did not. Then she told me about the time several years ago when I was her boss.  I was a terrible boss and made many mistakes.  Our department had gone through a particularly tough week, although I can't recall the specifics.  Anyway, even I could tell that my staff was down, and I mean, way down.

I walked into their office with the local newspaper opened to the movies listing.  "Choose a movie.  We're gettin' outta here."

They chose "Jurassic Park." And we spent the afternoon eating popcorn and watching cool dinosaurs.  And, at least once, I was a good manager.

    

Sinking in.

Parkland College Human Resources invites you to a Retiree Reception:

Thursday, May 2, 2013
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Art Gallery Lounge

Please come to recognize our retiree's for their service to Parkland College.

Gregory Boise
Public Safety
Martha Bowser-Kiener
Humanities
Mark Fruendt
Engineering Science & Technologies
Lester Hall
Public Safety
William Knerr
Physical Plant
Carolyn Martin
Planetarium
Carl Meyer
Foundation
Holly Pickowitz
Financial Aid
Ellen Saveley
Health Professions
Jan Simon
Community Education

Light refreshments will be served.

Please contact Human Resources at 3870 with any questions.