Identity Theft

I've been told that identify theft comes without warning and can happen without you even knowing it.  I understand that if it happens to you, it can be really challenging to repair the damage.  My identity theft is completely different - it is happening in front of my face and I offered it up voluntarily!  In five months, I will cease being this person.  Doubtful that someone will run around pretending to be me - as it turns out, I'm not that cool!  But it begs the question "who will I be?".  I'm not worrying about damage or complaining, just wondering. 

I can't speak to other careers - this is the only one I've ever known - but being an educator isn't a job, it's who we are.  If you've ever dined with a teacher who consumes their food in record time before breaking for the conversation, you know what I mean.  And our bladders are trained to before school, plan time, and after school.  We venture into public and find ourselves wanting to correct and discipline complete strangers.  I have literally had conversations with waiters, mammogram techs, and colonoscopy nurses about how they chose their career paths. Those are just the tip of the iceberg and we can't seem to help ourselves.  We go out for a nice social evening and every discussion turns into a school topic.

My oldest, Jared, wants to know if I will be less boring when I stop the job.  Man I hope so!  Maybe I'll recover my former self - the one who could be outrageous and attention seeking.  The one who would say whatever was on my mind (no filters - pretty scary!).  If I no longer have to be someone's role model, maybe I'll regain my status as a public spectacle - loud and proud!  So in coming full circle, maybe it's been the job that stole my identity all these years and I can find my REAL self again.  (Did anyone miss that Lisa?  I'm not sure Donnie did and I KNOW my kids are going to be pretty shocked and appalled.  I have always reveled in the ability to embarrass my children - it is one of the many joys of parenting!)