IRON MOUNTAIN — On my Christmas tree, which yes, is still up, is an ornament made of teal, sage, blush and golden mercury glass books. The faux stack of books is “held together” by twine, and when it nears a light, you can see the rays pop through the glassy bubbles. It is my favorite ornament. My husband’s favorite ornament is a Santa jumping rope with string lights — this alone is an excellent example of how different we are — but nevertheless, each ornament that holds the fondest spot in each of our heart’s is there for a very specific reason, and in highest regards, because in some way they each represent a part of who we believe ourselves to be.

Ever since I was a child I’ve loved reading. I don’t know if I fell in love with it because my mother read to me all the time, but I was that kid who would choose to read over playing video games. My brothers would watch “Land Before Time” with dinosaurs and I would watch “Wishbone” and “Reading Rainbow” to soak up all the knowledge I could about literature. By the time I was 10, I’d read nearly all of the “Anne of Green Gables” books, memorized the “When Calls the Heart” series, and filled two bookshelves in my room. My brother often brags about how he’s never actually read a book all the way through, but for me, reading is part of life. If I couldn’t read, it would almost be as if I couldn’t breathe. It was no surprise to anyone who knew me that I had decided to go into a career field that involved language arts, and when I decided to be an English teacher, people would smile and nod and tell me that I would be great at it, all because everyone knew that I loved to read.

People always ask me if I miss teaching, whether I’d ever go back to it or if I’d consider taking a teaching position in the area if it presented itself. Some have even told me of future jobs in English that they’ve heard will be opening.

When people ask me these questions, or tell me these thoughts, and I tell them that I don’t think I’ll ever go back to teaching, they always seem surprised. To me, working in the store six days a week and writing for the paper is plenty to keep me occupied, and the idea of teaching doesn’t ever cross my mind. But for others, the thought of me not teaching seems to take a greater effect.

Do I miss teaching? It’s a trick question. I miss my kids. I miss the feeling I used to get when one of my student’s would confide in me or come in on a Monday morning and tell me they missed me. I miss how the same student came to me every day for bus fare because he didn’t have any and he knew I kept change for him. I miss how the deodorant and Band-Aids and granola bars I had in my lower drawer always got used by those who truly needed them. I miss bringing literature to life and showing young people new ideas through perspectives they’d never considered.

Again, I miss my kids, but what don’t I miss? I don’t miss being at school from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and then going home and grading for another hour and planning for two. I don’t miss 10-hour professional development days where we as teachers were “taught” how to be better teachers by those who had never been teachers. I don’t miss the politics between staff members or the obliviousness of administration. I don’t miss the hundreds of hours of overtime that never got compensated. I don’t miss the kids who got into fights in my classroom, brought weapons into my classroom, disrupted my classroom. I don’t miss the feeling of never quite being enough, or the feeling of finally feeling like you did do enough and then a state test coming back with less than favorable results and your superiors telling you you actually didn’t do enough.

When I graduated from Purdue University in 2014, I did so with some of my closest “education major” friends, and at the time, we were all bright eyed and excited for what our teaching futures would hold. I remember taking a picture of the sunrise on one of my commutes to work while I was student teaching with the caption “I don’t ever want to not feel as excited as I do right now about what I’m doing for a living,” and at the time, I wholeheartedly felt I would never not feel that excitement for teaching. Of my many education classes, I had a close-knit group of about six — of those six, only one is still teaching. Every one of the rest of us have in some way changed our career paths.

Are teachers just lazy? Is the “burnout” phenomenon just an excuse? Every job is hard, right? According to psychologytoday.com, about 15 percent of teachers leave the profession every year. More than 41 percent of teachers leave the profession within five years of starting teaching, and in a survey done by weareteachers.com of the five top reasons why “teachers quit teaching,” students were never a reason. In fact, poor administration and lack of support, along with poor working conditions — such as too-large classes, poor buildings, lack of materials, inadequate superiors — was number one, and testing and data collection was number three.

Yes, every job is hard and, no, teachers do not go into the job expecting to get paid what we’re actually owed. In fact, when I was teaching, the pay never bothered me because I didn’t want to be a teacher to get rich. I wanted to be a teacher to make a difference, and I felt that I was making one. When my customers now ask me if I miss teaching, part of me wants to say yes, because I feel like if I don’t, I’m not doing the teacher inside of me justice. But in all reality, if I were hooked up to a lie detector, my answer would be no. To be continued.

——

Freeman

Kingsford

Scenes and sounds, 11:45 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Sunday: Uno, 1 p.m.; dunking donuts, 2 p.m.; church, 2:15 p.m.

Monday: Pretty nails, 10 a.m.; Brouhaha, 11 a.m.; line dancers, 1:30 p.m.; ice cream social, 3 p.m.

Tuesday: Crafts, 10:30 a.m.; reminisce, 1:15 p.m.; Kentucky Derby, 2 p.m.; pj dice, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Room visits, 10 a.m.; rosary, 11 a.m.; Golden Throats entertain, 2 p.m.; movie and popcorn, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Reading buddy, 11 a.m.; bingo with Carol, 2 p.m.; laundry day, 4 p.m.; dinner theatre, 5 p.m.

Friday: What’s cooking, 11 a.m.; Mass, 2 pm..; sing along, 2:30 p.m.; happy hour, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Daily News, 11 a.m.; spinning records, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Iron County Medical Facility

Crystal Falls

Room visits, 1 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Exercise, 11 a.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Sunday: One-to-one church visitor, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Yahtzee, 10 a.m.; matinee with popcorn, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Crafts, 9 to 10:30 a.m.; VFW bingo, 2 p.m.; Sunshine Club, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Book Club, 10 a.m.; prayer, 10 a.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; current events, 2 p.m.; Western movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Community breakfast, 9 a.m.; trivia teasers, 10:30 a.m.; Apostolic Lutheran, 1:15 p.m.; getting pretty, 1:15 p.m.; Men’s Club, 2 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; travel film, 1:30 p.m.; United Lutheran, 2 p.m.; happy hour, 2:30 p.m.

Friday: Crafts, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; heads up, 2 p.m.; romance movie, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Puzzler, 10 a.m.; how do you feel, 10 a.m.; geri-gym, 11 a.m.; Intergenerational social hour, 2 p.m.

ManorCare

Kingsford

Wet your whistle, 9:30 a.m. daily.

Movie, 10:45 a.m. daily, and 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Gathering place, 11:40 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 11:40 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Popcorn Day Fridays.

Protestant Church service, 3 p.m. Sunday.

Exercises, 10 a.m. daily.

Sunday: Just jokes, 10:15 a.m.; “Company’s Coming” room visits, 1:30 p.m.; Protestant church, 3 p.m.

Monday: Martin Luther King Jr. facts, 10:15 a.m.; Crystal Hogan entertains, 2 p.m.; movie, 3:15 p.m.; pokeno, 5:45 p.m.

Tuesday: Trivia, 10:15 a.m.; Resident Council/food committee, 2 p.m.; movie and a manicure, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Remembering when, 10:15 a.m.; monthly birthday party with Jim Edberg, 2 p.m.; flip five, 5:45 p.m.

Thursday: Crosswords, 10:15 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; crafts, 5:45 p.m.

Friday: Finish lines, 10:15 a.m.; Mass, 2 p.m.; chips n’ chatter, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday: Current events, 10:15 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; movie, 3:15 p.m.

Maryhill Manor

Niagara, Wis.

Rosary, 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Parachute, 1:30 p.m. daily.

Monthly support group for grief and loss, 2 p.m. second Monday of the month.

Weekend pet visits.

Sunday: Rosary, 8:30 a.m.; Mass, 9 a.m.; bingo, 10:15 a.m.; “Deal or No Deal,” 1:30 p.m.; Protestant service, 2:30 p.m.; Christian fellowship, 5:30 p.m.

Monday: Spelling Bee, 10:15 a.m.; nickel jokereno, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Rummage bingo, 10:15 a.m.; current events, 2 p.m.; Yahtzee, 6:15 p.m.

Wednesday: Jokereno, 10:15 a.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.; “Family Feud,” 6:15 p.m.

Thursday: Mass, 9 a.m.; Scattergories, 10:15 a.m.; derby day, 2 p.m.; whammo, 6:15 p.m.

Friday: Exercise, 10:15 a.m.; trivia, 10:30 a.m.; happy hour, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Baking, 10:15 a.m.; pamper and polish, 2 p.m.; bingo, 5:45 p.m.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

Exercise, 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Coffee clutch, 9:30 a.m. daily.

Shopping days: 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, must sign up.

Sunday: Bible study, 2:30 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Monday: Bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Tuesday: Music, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Thursday: “Wheel of Fortune,” 2 p.m.; rosary, 3 p.m.

Friday: Bingo, 2 p.m.; refreshments, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Movie and popcorn, 2 p.m.

Florence Health Services

Florence, Wis.

Morning news, 6 a.m. daily.

Sunday: Bingo, 10 a.m.; trivia, 2 p.m.

Monday: Bingo with Bette, 10 a.m.; table volley, 2 p.m.; reminisce, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Pastor Doug, 10 a.m.; strawberry ice cream party, 2 p.m.; social hour, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Trivia, 10 a.m.; manicures, 2 p.m.; music with Grace and Dave, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Pastor Jason, 10 a.m.; music with St. Agnes choir, 12:30 p.m.; room visits, 3:30 p.m.

Friday: Catholic church service, 10 a.m.; craft, 2 p.m.; one on one, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Bingo, 10 a.m.; Connect Four, 2 p.m.; movie, 6 p.m.

Pinecrest Medical Care Facility

Powers

Life connections, 9:45 a.m. every Monday.

Busy bee, 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Rosary 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Sunday: Grace church, 10:15 a.m.; ball toss, 10:30 a.m.; Lutheran service, 2 p.m.; life stories, 3:30 p.m.

Monday: Worship and communion service, 1:30 p.m.; rosary, 2 p.m.; bean bag toss, 3:30 p.m.; checkers, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Shopping outing, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; Pictionary, 3:30 p.m.; book cart, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Casino outing, 10:30 a.m.; birthday party, 2 p.m.; rummy, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday: Soup cook-off, 10 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; cards, 3:30 p.m.; “Trouble” boardgame, 6 p.m.

Friday: Mass, 10:30 a.m.; Jerry Beauchamp, 2 p.m.; fish fry outing, 3:30 p.m.; one-on-one visits, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Karaoke, 10 a.m.; social circle, 10:30 a.m.; ice cream social, 2 p.m.; reminiscing, 3:30 p.m.

SENIOR CENTERS

Note: All centers ask for 24-hour advanced reservations for lunch. If you have meals delivered and will not be home, notify the center.

Alpha-Mastodon Center

906-875-3315

Meal noon every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Lunch at noon.

Bingo on Tuesdays.

Free meal drawing on Thursdays.

Breen Center

906-774-5110

Meals Monday through Friday.

Pasty sale every third Saturday of the month.

Cards and games available 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m.

Hostess on duty Monday through Friday.

Treats and coffee, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Center retail store is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday; volunteers and donations are welcome.

Birthdays acknowledged every day.

Evening meals are on the first and third Thursday of the month. Salad bar opens at 4 p.m., with dinner at 5 p.m. Donations are $4 for those 60 and older and $5 for 60 and younger.

Crystal Falls Center

Head cook: Lucy Korhonen

906-875-6709

Meals will be served on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5 p.m., with the salad bar opening at 4:30 p.m. The dinner donation is $5 for those age 60 and older and $6 for those younger than 60. There is a $1 charge for takeout containers. All are invited.

Cribbage will be played at 1 p.m. Wednesdays and be concluded in time for dinner.

Monday: Soup, salad, ravioli, meatballs, vegetables, garlic bread and homemade dessert.

Tuesday: Soup, salad, chicken broccoli alfredo, breadsticks, and homemade dessert.

Wednesday: Soup, salad, baked fish, fried potatoes, vegetables and homemade dessert.

The center is closed Thursday through Sunday.

A blood pressure reading can be taken by request at any time while the center is open.

Crystal Lake Center

906-774-5888

The center is closed on weekends.

Monday: Woodcarvers, 10 a.m.; mahjong in dining hall, noon; Les Artistes Art Club, noon; bridge club, 12:15 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday: Pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: Billiards, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday: Spinning Spools Quilters Guild, 1 p.m., crafters, scrapbookers and others also welcome; knitting and crocheting class, 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday: Smear, 12:30 p.m.

Last Saturday of the month: Music jam starting at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Dances take place from 7 to 10 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Admission is $6; coffee is free.

The Photo Club meets 1 to 3 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.

Evening meals are usually on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Salad bar opens at 4 p.m., with the meal served at 4:30 p.m. A donation of $4 is accepted for seniors age 60 and older but not required.

Home-delivered meals are for seniors 60 and older can be delivered seven days a week. Christine McMahon has information for all meals and can be reached at 906-774-2256, ext. 235. For transportation, call Buzzin’ Around Town at 906-282-0492. Rides are $3 for age 60 and older and $3.50 for younger than 60.

Transportation is available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Meals served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.

Bingo after lunch on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

A congregate jigsaw puzzle is done daily.

Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County

Director: Tiffany White

715-528-4890

Suggested donation for seniors older than 60 is $4 per meal. Residents younger than 60 must pay $7. Reservations and cancellations needed 48 hours in advance.

The ADRC can assist area seniors and those with disabilities with transportation Monday through Friday. Transportation reservation should be made with meal reservation.

Four senior dining locations are listed below:

Fence Center/Town Hall

715-336-2980

Meal at noon Wednesdays only. Reservations are requested. Cribbage and cards are available.

Florence Community Center/Town Hall

715-528-4261

Meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Jigsaw puzzles, cards, cribbage and board games are available. The coffee is always on.

Tipler Town Hall

715-674-2320

Serving lunch at noon on the second Thursday of the month.

Hillcrest Senior Dining Center, Aurora

715-589-4491

Meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Jigsaw puzzles, cribbage, cards and board games are available. The coffee is always on.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Pam Haluska

906-498-7735

Meal is at noon Monday through Friday. Suggested donation is $3 for age 60 and older and $7 for those younger than 60.

Morning coffee is available daily.

Fifteen games of “fun bingo” are played each Tuesday and Friday, along with a 50-50 drawing.

Tuesday: Bingo, 12:45 p.m.

Wednesday: Cards played in the afternoon. Call ahead to see if a game will be going on.

Friday: Bingo, 12:45 p.m.

Monday through Friday: Walking in the gym, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A treadmill also is available.

Friendly interaction with other crafters.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Meals served 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; a $4 donation is encouraged from those 60 and older, and a $5 payment is required from those younger than 60.

Thursday meal, 3:30 p.m. soup, 4 p.m. salad bar, with dinner at 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Christine McMahon has information for all meals and can be reached at 906-774-2256, ext. 235. For transportation, call Buzzin’ Around Town at 906-282-0492. Rides are $3 for age 60 and older, and $3.50 for younger than 60.

Niagara Northwoods Senior Cafe and Center

Meal site manager: Corrie Maule

715-251-1603

Senior center director: Jill Anderson

715-251- 4154

Noon meals served Monday through Thursday.

Transportation to the meal site from the Niagara, Wis., area is offered.

They welcome any senior groups that would like to use the meal site to meet — join them for lunch and then stay for a meeting or social time.

Wii games, cards, puzzles and board games are available to play.

Other activities are in the works — suggestions are always welcome.

Those who have not been at the meal site/senior center are invited to give it a try. Those who haven’t been here in a while are encouraged to come back.

Norway Center

Director: Susie Slining

906-563-8716

Monday through Thursday: Meals served at noon, with salad bar. Soup also is available at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Milk, juice, bread, fruit, tea, and coffee served daily. Meal donation is $5. Reservation for the meal should be made in advance.

Two special-themed meals take place each month, with bingo, prizes and a 50-50 drawing.

Two evening meals offered at 5 p.m. on the first Monday and third Wednesday of the month, with bingo, prizes and a 50-50.

If Norway-Vulcan are schools are closed due to snow days, so is the senior center. If the schools are on a two-hour delay, the center remains open.

Cards are played daily after the noon meal.

Craft and exercise classes: Mondays and Thursdays.

Ceramic and art classes: Wednesdays.

Puzzles always in the works.

A senior coloring class meets daily. All are welcome. Some materials will be provided.

Monday — Center board meeting, 10 a.m.

Tuesday — New Year’s dinner with ham, scalloped potatoes, green bean salad, soup, salad bar, fruit, juice, dessert. Bingo and prizes with 50-50 available; sign up early.

Wednesday — Blood pressure clinic from 11 a.m. to noon.

Wednesday — Noon meal with tator tot casserole, mixed vegetables, salad bar, fruit, juice, and dessert.

Wednesday — Evening meal at 5 p.m., with barbecue dinner, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, soup, salad bar at 4 p.m., and dessert. Bingo and prizes with 50-50 available; sign up early.

Thursday — Birthday club dinner with meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, soup, salad bar, fruit, juice, and birthday cake. Have a birthday in January? Join them and have your picture taken and join others on the birthday wall of fame at the center.

Note: A CSFP food card (green card) is available to income-eligible seniors. Make an appointment to get signed up. File of Life packets available at the center.

Note: Ask about the Medicare Savings Program. This program helps people pay their Medicare part B premium. You may be eligible. The local MMAP counselor can be reached at 1-800-803-7174, or dial 211.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Meals: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11:45 a.m.

Cards: Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday.

Commodities are every other month and quarterly commodities are every three months.

A puzzle table is available to enjoy.