Out of retirement, into the fire

So I got a job.  This was highly unexpected. I had pretty much resigned to an early "retirement" living on Social Security Disability and doing "love" projects as a volunteer and avoiding any long-term commitments.

One of those "love" projects was helping out my friend Kim Dabbs who is the new Executive Director of a local organization, the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology (WMCAT) with a video project. This is an organization whose mission has always interested me and I was happy to contribute in some way.  I met several of the staff through my volunteer activities and my esteem for the organization grew.

Unrelated to those volunteer activities, I started seeing references (on Facebook and some email lists I belong to) to a job opening teaching video to teenagers part-time.  Of course this interested me.  I thought I might be able to refer this job to ma friend. When I read the job description I kept thinking, "Wow, this would be a perfect job for me if i was not retired.  My resume perfectly matches their requirements too." But I am retired and so I forwarded it on to some friends and tried to forget about it.  After all, who would hire someone with stage 4 cancer for a 9-month contract anyway?

While I was up north at Glen Lake for a vacation, I received an email from one of Kim's WMCAT staff members in charge of the youth program asking me if I knew anyone who was qualified as they were having a hard time filling the position.  I replied that I would send the description to a few of my friends and then I added, "I'm tempted to apply, myself."  She replied, encouraging me strongly.

I guess I nailed the interview.  I really had nothing to lose.  And now I find myself contractually obligated to survive another 9 months in good health as I teach two groups of 12 teenagers how to make videos with community partners.  I meet each group twice per week in the afternoons, Tuesday through Friday.

I'm incredibly impressed by the other teachers and staff members and humbled to be accepted into their company.  They all LOVE what they do and assure me that this will be a rewarding experience.  I'll meet my students for the first time at a retreat the weekend of September 20.  Until then, I need to come up with equipment and curriculum plus the courage to embark on a new adventure with many unknowns. It will be a leap of faith, but so far the signposts are all very positive.

Here goes!