The Old Prof

It may not even be the beginning of the end

but its surely the end of the beginning (I wish I had thought of that but Churchill was born earlier)

Today, with even my eyelids sweating, I drove over to school and picked up the courier delivered “Urgent” document from “the down town office”. if it hadn’t been for a very helpful Dean and a Secretary both of which went way out of there way to be helpful I would never have figured this out or gotten the documents on time. in fact i have been helped all along the line by friends and friends of friends. i wonder if it would even have been possible to have begun this process un-aided. (The district has several 80 and 90 plus year old teachers who probably can’t figure out how to get out and just resignedly roll out of bed in the morning and go to work)

Took it, the document, to social security. That office is on De Soto, almost camouflaged by a big tree out front and its location in the midst of various stores. I completely missed the first day I searched. The guard said that, yeah, he had recommend that they cut the tree down so people could find the office but no one listens to him.

i went in with the documents they had requested and taken by surprise somehow found a document i didn’t know I needed, indicating I really was eligible for retirement from the place I had been teaching for 38 years.

I quickly ( ok, they quickly) finalized my application for medicade and medicare. I wandered out of the office in a daze, not believing that just three visits had accomplished that. But those guys were unfailingly polite and competent and kind. Truly. I even complimented the guard as i left.

Both the college Dean and the secretary said I might like to see the Benefits Office. I really didn’t want any more hassle today but…Drove over to the “Benefits Office”

Well, I didn't drive directly to it. I drove into two dead ends before I found the street

it was on didn’t go directly thru to Topanga Canyon. It was educational.

Wandered around the parking lot looking for the name I had been given and settled for something else that turned out to be the name they are doing business under and the building in which they are doing it. Handed in three papers i thought I had had to mail to someone, which handing in Alfredo told me now buys me a 90 day extension to finish up this whole process of retirement and allows me to begin submitting by mail various other documents (which I have already filled out) And I can continue using my regular medical benefits.

It would have been easier to have died in harness.( At least I think so but I guess no one will blog that information from a position of knowledge) it’s still not over but I have bought a little time. To retire, that is. its too late for the other, though we are going to costa Rica and rappelling waterfalls, zip lining the forest canopy and viewing the active volcano right outside our hotel window.

Speaking of which, trip, Steve just called and needed information from my passport. it gave me pause when he asked what my expiration date was.