The Thursday Ramble: Camels and other thoughts 15

In colonial times, George Washington paid to have a camel as a holiday novelty at Mt. Vernon, the tradition continues.  The Camels' name is Aladdin.  The guy who runs the camel rental service, is the son-in-law of the real estate broker who helped me find the Condo 14 years ago. The Camel wrangler is also a talented carpenter, he replaced all of the interior doors in the condo shortly after I moved in.  

Today is my last scheduled regular day of work, remote work at that.  Tomorrow Change of plans, today I start holiday break, and using up paid administrative leave, also known as paid sick leave. Looking at my plan I realized I had more time to use up, or leave behind. I am planning to work a few hours next week, about 4 hours, and about 3 hours the following week, then my last day, January 5th, has to be a work day, I will go in, do my exit briefings, turn in my keys and laptop, delete my office account off of my phone 😃, take my team out to lunch, and come home.  So starts the next chapter of my life, but really it starts tomorrow with a day off. 

Too late to change my mind now.  

A beloved blogger mentioned in a post one day, that he didn't want to practice his profession today, or maybe anymore.  I emailed him.  I can identify.  I have felt that feeling.  Usually it is when there is a lot of weight of the job, or when I am feeling unqualified, or when things are just going wrong no matter what I do.  Usually something will happen, I make a difference in someone's life, the problem goes quietly away, and I regain the love of the job.  The more frequently that feeling arisess, the more I know I need to make a change.  I have worked with too many people over the years that quit working, and kept showing up on the job, kept drawing the salary.  

It was a feeling I had when my mid-life crisis hit.  I was in my early 30's, in a miserable relationship, trying to do a job, in a place that I didn't understand, at a time that was difficult.  I dreaded going in each morning, and one day I just called the boss and said, "I need some serious time off, like three or four months, considered it leaving, or a leave of absence but I need a change." I walked away from what up until then had been the best job I had ever had. I signed up for four classes that semester, ended the failed relationship, met the love of my life, and started the happiest half of my life. It was time for change, and I knew it.  

I am not at that point now.  But it is time, before I get there.  

SMILE, it is someone's else's show next year.  

The cover of the card I will leave behind for my successor.