it's so hard to say good-bye to yesterday

I've been singing this song in my head the past week or so, and thought, "Hey, I can do what Beth did in the last post, and base my words on the lyrics."  And then I looked up the lyrics, and they really have NOTHING to do with this situation.  So scratch that idea...  I still think that the phrase itself works all by itself, though.  It's so hard to say good-bye to yesterday.

It's been good-bye after good-bye around here lately.  One of the first was a farewell to our little house.  For days and days we have meticulously been packing box after box with all of our wordly belongings.  Of course, we came up with a color coded system,  The dots on the boxes indicate in which room it will be placed once we get into our new house.  Oh yeah, like you are surprised!  It's kind of sad to see the house in mass chaos, and then to watch as little by little each of these boxes is carried out until all that is left is a shell.  We did shed a few tears.  It was a great little house that served us well for ten years, and we will never forget it. 

After we closed the door on Azalea Drive (we did say good-bye for you, Gabriella!) we headed to our temporary home with Karen and Michael.  They have provided the perfect little haven for us while we are homeless.  We love them both so much!  Karen had invited a few of our scrappy friends over for a send off.  What fun we had  laughing, sharing, and reminiscing!  Such good people...  Here we are all on the back deck at Karen's house - me, Beth, Sue, Leslie, Judy, and Karen.  Below that are Michael and Karen on Friday night celebrating their 21st anniversary.  They are so cute!

Friday, we headed to CHS for one last time.  It was a day filled with final exams and data calculation, and, to be truthful, it didn't seem to be too out of the ordinary. It was just like any other end of the school year.  Hand in your gradebook, export your grades, get hugs from a few kids, and let summer commence.  I'm sure that the reality will hit when school supplies appear in stores on July 5th, but right now, it just seems like we are about to embark on a new adventure.  I did begin the final final exam by mentioning that they would be the very last class of my teaching career, and wouldn't you know it they were driving me INSANE by the end of the period?!?!?  Ha ha!  The summer excitement is certainly bound to getcha pumped up.  Here they all are taking their English 11 final exam...

Saying good-bye to the school was not as traumatic as the house at least for me.  Beth got a little misty leaving her classroom, but I said, "My classroom was small, hot, and windowless.  Good riddance!"  So why did I get teary-eyed when I hugged the principal?  Hmmmm.  It was a great place to work with a lot of great people.  People like Mollie:

She totally rocks the DG sunglasses, don't you think?!  And there is Nicole:

The best darn photography teacher I know (and never short on sarcasm)!   Next come Carrie and Tanya.

Carrie was my student teacher last year and has just completed her first year of teaching.  I willed her 16 years of teaching stuff to be all her own.  I wish her GREAT success.  And with her is Tanya.  Tanya has been our dear friend since she came to Fort Wayne several years ago.  She is concerned that she will not have anyone to chat about "Grey's" and "Little People Big World" now that we are gone.  She is a spitfire!  Below is a gang before prom a few weeks ago:

Julie, Jess, Tracy, Monica - so MANY, MANY good times and memories.  These people really shaped our lives here in Fort Wayne, and we are so thankful for their love and support.  Here is Amber (with Mollie and me).

She and Jamie got together a great party for us last night for one last Carroll-oke.  Jamie teaches Spanish at CHS, and we were so excited to be with him and Amber on their wedding day.  They are expecting baby Sofia any day now. 

At the party last night, we were presented with an amazing gift.  OH MY GOODNESS!  I am still blown away!  Countless members of the CHS faculty and staff contributed memories in a scrapbook for us.  Yes, a scrapbook!  It began with a page of faculty pictures:

and continued with page after page of memories and good wishes.  Some people used stickers or scrapbooking stuff:

while others attached a card and pictures:

and some even included a part of daily life at Carroll for us to remember:

I pretty much cried and cried and cried, and if you know me, that is an oddity.  I was OVERWHELMED by the loving and supportive words that SO MANY people shared with us.  What a treasure they are to the students of Carroll High School (and to us, of course)!  God bless them, every one!

And tonight, we met Andrea Deer for dinner to say another scrapbooking farewell.  We have known Andrea since the beginning of our scrapbooking career, and it was exciting to see where we all are in the industry today.  She is so talented and so awesome!  We love you, Andrea!  Our picture didn't turn out too well, so here is what I could salvage!

And I'll take with me the memories... *insert Motown Philly harmony here*... and now, we are about to drive off into the sunset to forge a new path - I've given up my house keys and my school keys.  It's just me, my sister, and my car.  One key left.  A new life ahead.  Bring it on!  Salt Lake City or BUST!

Susan

PS - Totally cute car cake courtesy of our totally cool cousin Sharon at the totally amazing Good Luck on Your New Job Party thrown by our totally nifty Aunt Eva two weeks ago.

Comments

[Jan C.]

I'm going to get all "English majory" on you, Susan, and just pull out all the vocabulary stops here to say, "Holy Crap, you ladies have a lot of stuff!" And what's the deal with the mannequin?

I can't believe your friends made you that luscious scrapbook. It looks amazing. Some of your colleagues have scrapping in their blood, obviously.

And finally, that is the cutest cake I have ever, ever seen!

Good luck in Salt Lake City. You and Beth are gonna rock your new jobs.

[Sue Fields]

Oh you guys.....I'll be thinking of you as you embark on your new expedition!! I relate it to a cruise, going from port to port, looking forward to the next new experience but feeling bittersweet that the port we just visited is being left behind. So many good memories but lots to look forward to. So I send you off with good luck wishes, picturing in my mind that cute little car leaving port on a new excursion. Big hugs and have a safe trip!!

[Mary]

Good luck girls! I hope you have a safe trip. We can't wait to hear of your new adventures. Watch out Utah, here come the Opel sisters!

[Amy W.]

what a wonderful journey you two have ahead! safe travels and i will be stalking your blog for updates as you reach your destination. ;)

[NancyJones]

awwww, I can tell it was bittersweet.
The scrapbook ROCKS!! That was very sweet of them,

[Cath]

Seeing all the fantastic tributes to you and Beth as you leave Fort Wayne makes me all the more excited to meet you here in SLC!

I can't wait to see you a week from tomorrow!

Westward ho!

Cath

[Diane]

Wow, I'm sure this has been difficult to adapt to this much change all at once. Sounds like you are both doing great so far though. I'm glad you have so many fab friends like Karen to get you through to the next step! Good luck this week! Make sure you post often to keep us all up to date! :)

[Tina Albertson]

Time has flown....it seemed like forever a go that you and I were discussing all the possibilities of the future Susan ;) I am happy that I could at least stop at your garage sale. But I missed the fabulous Miss Beth :(

I hope your travels are safe....love you both!

[Tracey Wilder]

Have a fab trip! Be sure to blog soon as you get there so we can hear all the details!!! :)

Best of luck as you start a new chapter in your lives.

[nicole]

I love you guys!!! You are the best. I can't imagine what amazing things you will do in Utah! Good Luck!!!!

[Shelley Blackie]

Susan and Beth, Best wishes to you on your newest adventure. We will sure miss having you nearby, so don't forget to visit as often as you can! Your blog is awesome. You are doing something really exciting, and I'm sure God will continue to bless you, as he has already done. Friends through the years.....Shelley

[gabriella biancofiore]

1. Thank you for saying goodbye for me.
2. I absolutely loved your "good riddance" considering your classroom! LOL. :)
3. I would have cried buckets over that scrapbook, too. That was so very touching. Life is good, huh? :)

[Joni]

CONGRATULATIONS! And good luck Beth and Susan! I hope to be able to visit you someday...