I was reading @HerNameIsBuffy's latest blog entry about the process of leaving a job and showing your soon-to-be former coworkers how to get along okay once you're gone. This brought back a memory of when I was in Buffy's shoes.

My husband had finished graduate school and had a job lined up, so we had to pack up everything we owned and move halfway across the country. I kept my employer informed during this entire process, so that she knew exactly how much longer I would be with her. She decided that instead of replacing me, that she would redistribute my work to the remaining employees. I felt bad about this, but it wasn't my decision.

As the time got closer to my departure, I worked each day at teaching my duties to my coworkers. Most of them were fine, understood the situation, and were glad that I was still around to answer any questions while they got up to speed. All of the people I worked with were older than me. When I say older than me, I mean 20-40 years older than me. I learned a lot from that experience, but it's weird being put in a place where you are "the voice" for your entire generation.  

Anyway, one of the women was upset that our employer had chosen to not hire a replacement for me, and took it out on me. Whenever I would try to show her how to do my duties, she would try to put me off if at all possible. I kept trying to teach her the best I could, but it's hard to teach something when your student has no interest in learning. One day, her frustration boiled over, and she told me that she felt that once you reach a certain age, you shouldn't have to learn anything new. I remember staring at her and thinking that an attitude like that would not keep your mind healthy as you age, and to remember not to become like her as I grew older.

Now that I'm middle aged, things dont come as easily for me as they did when I was in my twenties.  I understand some of my former coworker's frustration, but I have chosen to keep trying instead of admitting defeat. I have days where I end up cussing and crying because I do have to work harder to obtain and retain new information, but I'm too ornery to just give up and stick with what I already know. I've read that reading, doing puzzles, and trying new things are good ways to keep our minds sharp as time marches on.

So, when I'm cussing because the baseboard snapped while removing it from the wall, or wanting to to throw my sewing machine across the room because the tension is screwed up again, or slamming drawers in the kitchen because my new recipe failed, I'm helping my brain by making it work to find a solution. 

Just don't say that to me at that moment or I'll smack you.