What does it mean when the past shows up with a key to your future?
That’s exactly what I was asking myself this morning.
My dad ran a small kitchen and bath shop in our town for years. He passed away in 2010, but last night—in a dream—he handed me the keys to the store that had been closed since 1998.
Living in the age of AI, I asked ChatGPT what it meant.
“It’s time to unlock something old to build something new.”
That hit. Especially now, as retirement closes in and everything’s shifting.
🚪 Chapter Closed, Door Cracked Open
I’m in the thick of a season of lasts—the final lap after 32+ years in education.
- Last time taking attendance
- Last faculty meeting
- Last coffee cart
- Last time entering grades
- Last LEGO build with students
- Last sub plan
I’m not one to get overly sentimental, but let’s be real—I’ve been at this school since 1983. I went here as a kid. I’ve taught here my whole career. You don’t just shut the lights off and walk away from that.
This place shaped me. And I’m proud of it.
I’ve been part of something bigger than a job. A community. A legacy.
We joke at home that I can’t go anywhere without someone recognizing me. That’ll fade—and yeah, I’ll probably miss it.
So when that dream showed up—those keys in my hand—it wasn’t just a memory. It was a message.
🏪 The Store Was Never Just a Store
If you grew up in a small town, you get it.
My dad’s shop wasn’t flashy, but it was built on something solid: integrity, hard work, and decency. He didn’t chase headlines—he just did the right thing, day after day.
That store was him. His values, his identity, his way of showing up for people. And I realize now—I’ve done the same thing in my classroom.
The shop was his space.
The classroom has been mine.
So when dream-me got handed those keys, I didn’t just feel like I was unlocking a door—I was holding a legacy.
What did I build that lasts?
What values did I pass on?
Tough questions. But I know this:
Teaching gave me more than I could ever give it back.
🔑 The Keys Weren’t Just Symbolic
In the dream, I unlocked the door. And it hit me:
That moment wasn’t about reopening the past. It was about stepping into the future—with purpose.
The keys weren’t just access. They were permission.
They were a nudge. A baton pass.
The school building will still be there. But my classroom—my version of it—is ending. My name will come off the door. But the impact? The relationships? The values?
They’re coming with me.
My classroom is gone, but the teacher isn’t.
This next phase? It’s just a new kind of classroom.
🛠️ From Blueprint to Build: What’s Next
Here’s the honest answer:
I don’t fully know what’s next.
I know there’ll be consulting. Some training. Definitely writing.
And yes—way more golf.
But what I do know is this:
I’m not done building.
I’ve seen the cracks in the system. Talked to educators all over the world. And we all feel it—something needs to change.
So here’s my plan:
Channel my dad.
Build my own space.
Speak the truth.
Create with purpose.
Serve in my own way.
Will it be for everyone? Nope.
Will it be flashy? Probably not.
Will it be real? Absolutely.
I’m not recreating his store.
I’m continuing his story.
With a different toolkit—and a lot more LEGO.
Fun fact: I still put out a stool for him when I work on something important. That won’t change.
🎧 Soundtrack for a Season
If this moment had a soundtrack, it’d be a mix of grit, reflection, and fire. Some of the tracks I’ve been vibing with lately:
- Metallica – “Nothing Else Matters”
- FFDP – “Wrong Side of Heaven”
- Tool – “Lateralus”
- Alice Cooper – “School’s Out”
- Britney Spears – “Stronger”
- Rammstein – “Sonne”
- Godsmack – “Serenity”
A strange mix? Maybe. But it fits.
Because reinvention needs both rage and rhythm.
🔓 You Have the Keys. Now What?
As you wrap up your school year—or your career—ask yourself this:
- What “stores” shaped you?
- What values did they pass down?
- What doors are you holding the keys to… but haven’t unlocked yet?
Legacy doesn’t have to mean staying.
Sometimes, it means *leaving right—*with intention, gratitude, and momentum.
You’ve got the keys.
Now open the door.
