historically speaking...
Susan Tomlinson retired as a teacher from Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2018 in part because she had been diagnosed with a very rare cancer called leiomyosarcoma. Her illness has become her Encore Performance.
HUH? What's up with that?
A friend told me having cancer is like having a new career, she said. You have new colleagues, new vocabulary, develop a new skillset, and you have a whole new schedule.
Is that how you came to terms with cancer?
Yes, she confirmed. That description helped me wrap my head around what I needed to do. I can adapt to a new career even though it's not one I chose. I embraced the whole idea and with my husband, have worked hard to research, learn, and pursue the best path for this new job.
What about your medical team? Do you find them to be helpful to you?
My new colleagues have worked hard with me to keep me on a path to feeling good, she smiled. I continue to thank God for every day. I'm part of a clinical trial, so we'll see.
You taught social studies for 41 years. Take us back to the beginning. How did teaching happen for you?
My mother was an English and Art teacher until I was born, she said. My grandmother taught at Indiana Business College in the 1920s. In all honesty though, there were few career choices for women back in the '70s. Secretary, nurse, and teacher were the most common choices. Teaching seemed like a natural choice.
Where did you start your career?
I taught at a junior high in Marion, Indiana in 1977, she recalled. I carpooled with two to four others from the Muncie, Indiana area and that included the blizzard of '78! It was too long of a drive, so I resigned after two years and got a job in Muncie.
When did you make the move to Franklin Township Schools?
I began working at the Middle School in 1992, she offered. I had 12 years of various teaching jobs in Indiana and Germany before that. I moved over to the high school in 2002.
And, you taught social studies.
Yes, she confirmed. I've taught more than 10 different social studies classes throughout the years.
Remembering when we worked together at the high school level, you were always involved in projects to keep your students interested.
Every year that I taught social studies, I had some kind of project, she said proudly.
Do you have one that stands out or means more to you?
I do, she admitted. It's a WWII exhibit that began as a History Club project. We collaborated with the Franklin Township Historical Society and our Media Specialist at the high school. It expanded to include multiple teachers and their classes.
What made that one so unique?
Another teacher and I wrote grants that funded our attendance at a National WWII Museum workshop in New Orleans that included going into the vaults to examine collections not available to the public, Susan stated. We then used what we learned to add to a WWII exhibit at school that had already been created. That interactive exhibit is set up in a large group discussion room for several days and most junior U.S. History classes at Franklin Central visit it for one or two days.
You had a most rewarding career as a teacher, but you had to leave it behind somewhat because of your diagnosis. Bring us up to date.
Well, I'm involved in several things right now, she eagerly said. Of course, managing my new career is top priority, but I'm working with the Morgan County Memories Project, the Global Village Welcome Center, and the Morgan County History Partnership.
What is the Memories Project all about?
This year is Morgan County Indiana's bicentennial, she explained. The county has a rich history and there are a lot of people whose lives have produced great stories. The Morgan County History Partnership is partnering with local organizations and agencies to encourage documenting and collecting these stories.
The Global Village Welcome Center sounds inviting.
It is too, she agreed. It opened on Indy's west side last October. It's an education and event center and houses exhibits of nations and cultures from all over the world. It works to celebrate our cultural richness.
What about the County History Partnership?
The Indiana Bicentennial helped to connect individuals and history-related organizations in 2016, she told me. The Morgan County Partnership was formed two years later and one of its goals was to create a museum. The Morgan County History Center and Museum opened last summer.
Even in retirement, you have surrounded yourself with history. You've also got a long history with your husband.
I do, she laughed. Chuck and I have been married 45 years. We met at Ball State my freshman year. We've got three dogs, a pony, and a horse.
You must have a lot of space.
I live 45 minutes from the Brown County State Park Horseman's Campground, she said. My horse's name is Kismet, I call her Kizzie, and my pony's name is Pony because she has a total pony attitude. I love to ride Kizzie on trails with a bitless bridle and a loose saddle. She enjoys exploring the trails and camping.
Considering the seriousness of your cancer, your attitude is moving and you are an inspiring woman.
When I returned to school after my diagnosis and surgery to check in with my students before the end of the semester, a fellow teacher, herself a cancer survivor, came to see me, she confided. She told me that God would take care of me and that He would show me this by putting people in my path to remind me. This happens to me all the time. Having cancer is the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with, but I have hope and I have faith.
Susan is not alone. She has been a revelation.
Coming up: how do those inventor types think; more bucket list items from POS; what makes a memorable Valentine's Day, and; meet more POS (people over 60) who tell us what they are doing since retirement.
And, finally. An Indianapolis oncology doctor I had been seeing for 17 years was forced to retire because of an inherited eye condition causing him to lose his sight. At that time, he was 52 and his sight was fading fast. A couple weeks before my own retirement, I received a letter from his office explaining the situation and doctor's pending change. A week after that, a call from the doctor's office informed me the doctor wanted to see me. I paid him a visit at the requested time.
He came into the room and we talked about how life happens. I expressed to him how sorry I was he was forced to retire. His answer was as uplifting as Susan's outlook.
All of us have something to carry and live with the best way we can, he said, you, me, everybody. I have had a wonderful life with sight and now I'm going to find out about life without vision. My plan is to work on some kind of device that will help sightless people. If I can use my mind that way, I will be okay.
It was heartfelt, totally unselfish, and unforgettable.
HUH? What's up with that?
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