Retired Too Early

by Tuxedo Cat
(Cleveland)

I taught children with multiple disabilities in an urban school district. I loved my job.

Since I was a child, I had spells where I just blanked out, everything seemed chaos, but everyone thought I was just not paying attention.

As the years rolled by I had an occasional seizure, grand mal, but it was diagnosed by doctors as stress. Finally, at work, I had two grand mal seizures, one where I fell down a flight of stairs, one where I cracked my head on a door jamb. I found a neurologist who placed me in an epilepsy diagnostic unit for five days, during which I had constant EEG monitoring, ending with my epilepsy being diagnosed, and got appropriate medications.

Well, I guess my employer considered me a liability, because, like a few teachers before me, I had an illness that made them think it was not advisable to have me around, I guess. Things got to the point I took retirement, and I have not been happy since. It has been seven years now, and I know I could have worked at least 5 more years.

Well, this is my retirement story, although I guess I have written mainly about my illness. With epilepsy diagnosed, I cannot drive now.

I love to read, do writing, love animals, am trying beading and needlework, travel, love babies and children. I try to make something out of my retirement.

Just sharing my story.

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