Friday, July 4, 2025

Happy 4th of July! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some faves if they have their link up today.

This has been a noteworthy week. I officially retired on Wednesday, July 1! The day before I made sure all of my insurance and financial stuff was good to go (lots of phone calls) and I opened up my work email one last time because I was losing access. Honestly, it made me feel good to get that “monkey off my back” of work email!

I didn’t do anything to mark the day Wednesday but I met with my former student who is just back from a year in Spain so that is kind of a nice thing to do to celebrate! And, I posted this photo on my social media:

It also had a song I found on IG “I just retired. I don’t have to work no more.”

I hope that people don’t think I am “rubbing it in”. I worked the same job for 31 years (Spanish teacher in the state of Kentucky so it was all the same system even though I was at three different districts during my tenure) and didn’t get to stay home with my kids when many people took a break and that was really hard. But, honestly, if my post did rub anyone the wrong way, “let them”. I also might mention that I have been “hustling” since I was like 12 babysitting, lifeguarding, managing pools, waitressing, working retail, and I even had summer jobs while I was a teacher.

Also, Lord willing, I do plan to go back to working at some point. It will have to be the right thing.

I also said goodbye to my beloved car of 10 years. It has been my favorite car I have ever had, but it was time to part ways because of all its issues. The most annoying would be the back hatch totally broke off and I had to hold it open with a broomstick. And, the other would be the lack of functioning AC!

I got this car on Mother’s Day weekend when my twins were in 8th grade!

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Bye, bye and thank you for your service.

I replaced it with a slightly smaller SUV. Once you sit higher up it’s hard to go back down. Lol.

I haven’t been reading much but when I do I am enjoying this:

The reason for me not reading much is that I have fallen into a Gilded Age hole and I can’t stop!

Little boy is definitely maturing. He still loves to steal shoes, dishtowels, hand towels, washcloths (Mason said he dealt in linens in a past life), pillows, try to pull up our rugs and drag them or chew on them, steal sticks of butter when they are left out, steal the dust pan when I sweep, and a whole lot of other “bad boy” things.

When I read outside, he lays behind me and watches the yard activity. Good boy!

The humidity broke a bit this week and as long as I can keep enough bug spray on it’s been pleasant again.

I literally put Fresh Market meat on my Tuesday agenda and went and bought their chicken, beef, 4 butcher case hot dogs, and some cod for blackened fish sandwiches. They had some festive 4th foods and I picked up these red, white, and blue tortilla chips…

r, w, b potato chips…

and little r,w,b potatoes! So cute!

My new Aerie tee is cropped but no skin shows. I paired it with my red and blue skirt and wore this to run an errand and meet my former student Ali who is back from Spain.

These are the sweet and thoughtful gifts I received from my Heathers along with my dinner out last Friday. Blonde Heather always makes custom cards at Walgreen’s and she used my social media photo to do so. I need her to teach me how she does this! And, they ordered a travel jewelry box about retirement for me, gave me Uncommon James earrings that they both already have, and a gift certificate to one of my favorite boutiques. They literally did too much.

My friend Elizabeth had some PTO she needs to use this summer and wanted to do a pool day so we went Wednesday (it finally stopped raining Tuesday) and had a really nice day. This is the 18 and older pool but it’s right next to the kiddie pool – lol. Also, it now costs $16 to get in for a day!

Eddie Otis had his friend Willow over while Dan (Willow’s daddy) and I discussed our podcast! We probably won’t be ready for it to go live until August, but we have a plan. I think we are going to do it for sure and see how it goes. It is going to be called Fifties Sense – a smart, funny, and honest podcast about life in your 50s hosted by two longtime friends.

And, I want to leave you with a memory (not a flattering photo of me) from a 4th of July pool party long ago. I think they even have on red, white, and blue trunks and rash guards. My high school bestie captured this of my twins with me.

Happy 4th of July to you!

Amy

26 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. Aw, I love that throwback photo; it’s so sweet! Congrats on the new car. I’m sure it will take getting used to but hopefully it’s a new favorite in no time. I’m always reluctant to get rid of our old car but within a few months I end up loving the new one. Those chips look delicious. I haven’t been able to fine the blue/purple potatoes in our stores in forever but I used to love those. I had a purple potato salad I used to make each summer. They definitely tasted different from all the other potato varieties we have.

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    1. I love it, too. It really speaks to how I felt about mothering them and still do. Thank you. I don’t like change and having to reacclimate but it’s a good change. Oh I love purple potatoes and could see that working well!

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    1. It wasn’t too bad. A girl of only 24 years old was my salesperson. She had three people picking up new or new to them cars on the same day. I told her she was amazing!

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  3. What a sweet picture of you and your boys. I love your posts! Congrats on your retirement. You are not rubbing anything in. I am a teacher as well, and am so excited for anyone who makes it as long as you did. I am also excited about your new car. You’ll have to post a picture of it soon. Enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Thank you and thank you! Ok – I don’t know why I was a little worried about that. Ok – will do. And, you too! Happy 4th! I always felt that the 4th was the halfway mark and it made me a little depressed. I hope you are still feeling happy to be summering!

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  4. Happy 4th of July! I laughed out loud when I read you keep the back hatch open with a broomstick…We have to get a car this summer, both cars are old, and I’m dreading it. Love the pictures of Eddie Otis! That pool is so pretty! Did it use to be a residence? Have a great weekend!

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    1. And to you, too! Yeah – that was fun! I really am a witch riding around with a broomstick. Bahahahaha!
      I hate the process but this was pretty easy. I wrote a list of what I liked and Tom said what he also liked and didn’t and then I went and test drove my fave and one other. I made the decision pretty fast. Sometimes I can be super decisive and other times not so much.
      The historic home behind the pool (in front of the pool) is used for events now. I am not sure the history but I could look it up!

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  5. Happy official retirement! Yay! Deleting work email, what a dream!!! You have every right to be proud for teaching 31 years! What an amazing accomplishment and while teaching is a good gig for raising a family, we still miss out on so much of our own family’s lives. No fun dealing with car stuff but sounds like you got just what you needed. I love the throwback pic. It’s not bad of you! So sweet. Have a great 4th!

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    1. Right? It felt great. I had gotten to the point where opening my email was triggering. There was always one more thing I needed to do! Thank you!
      The car process wasn’t too bad. A girl of only 24 sold me the car.
      Happy 4th!

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  6. Happy 4th July! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
    What an exciting week, officially being retired. I am happy for you, you have worked hard and deserve the retirement!
    It sounds like your old car has served you well.
    I have seen Gilded Age advertised on TV and it’s on my list of things that I need to watch.

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  7. Yay for you, Amy! My husband officially retired on Monday. On Tuesday night we had dinner with friends and when the husband had to go to bed – he had to get up early for work the next day – my husband said, “I’m sorry.” I wanted to throat punch him, that will get old real fast Mr. Rohr! The good news is I don’t think my friend’s husband realized what he said.

    So many people my age are retiring now and I still have 8 more years to work. I stayed home with my boys and education was a 2nd career for me, I have no regrets about it but it gets old having to explain why I am still working. If I worked in a traditional school I couldn’t do it for 8 more years. Not as a school counselor.

    I’m excited about your new car and your podcast! That picture of you and the boys is priceless – I hope you have that framed somewhere!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. That’s wonderful! I think you did a great day of celebration and that’s pretty funny.
      You have frustrations for sure but I think what you are doing from home with some balance will allow you to carry on for 8 more years and not hate it. I could be wrong, but I think you were smart to move into that position.

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  9. Happy 4th of July! That last picture is so good! Congrats on the new car and official retirement- what a week! I hope you enjoy the weekend. Ours is looking good n’ hot- I hope yours is too and lots of water is involved :).

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  10. Happy 4th! I love the throwback photo! Those were such sweet days. Do not apologize or feel bad about retiring!! You earned it – 100%!!

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  11. Happy official retirement! I remember feeling like a horse put out to pasture when they turned off my email. I had already cleaned it out and forwarded some emails from parents, but I still felt like I was being kicked out. And, don’t ever feel like you should feel badly about retiring and being proud of it! You earned every day of your retirement and then some, I’m sure! I can’t wait to hear more about the podcast! My husband has new car fever. I do not. I don’t want a car payment, increased insurance, or license plates. The thing is, though, his car is showing signs of needing some major repairs. During Covid, it would have made sense to repair it because it was worth a lot of money…now, not so much. I love my little Honda Civic because I can scoot in and out of places.

    I hope you framed that throwback photo. I don’t have many of me and my kids because I just didn’t like having my photo taken. Now, I regret that.

    I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. Thank you! I don’t feel like that at all – yet.
      I hate the hassle of getting a new car – programming the garage door, etc. but I couldn’t deal with the problems of the old. Had there been no problems, yes to driving what you have!
      I am the photographer so there were hardly any of me, either.

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    1. Thank you! Yes, I am not sure how exactly she does it. It’s a folding card and she must load her phone pictures on their computer at the store or maybe she does it from her phone app.

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