The beginning of the end

Through the rough times and the good times the laughter and the jeers

In the school system Deborah and I have worked for almost 35 years.

Today we begin another school year and this one we’re sure to remember

Why, you may ask is it not like the rest?  Because we retire at the end of September.

You see unlike the 35 others this one’s more difficult to comprehend

For this is not just another beginning...it’s the beginning of the end.

There’s a frantic kind of happy chaos that accompanies a new school year

It takes a while, OK sometimes never, for order to appear.

But this year, just as things settle down, in the twinkling of an eye

It will be the end of September and time to say goodbye.

Perhaps it will make everything more meaningful, more special than years past

Knowing that it is ending and this beginning will be our last

So as you head out in the world today here’s something I recommend

Treat today and every other day as the beginning of the end.