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Personal Reflection/Anecdote

After 30 years of teaching
students from elementary children to
graduate students, my body said, “No More!”
After 30 years of travel to Latin America, my doctors
said, “No More!” My love of nature, teaching, anthropology
and archaeology, Latin America, and all things Spanish seemed
stolen from me by my diseased kidneys. My challenge was to find
new ways to satisfy this insatiable itch to teach, to learn, to speak
Spanish, to climb ruins, and to travel. I tutored, taught Spanish to adults
in the Oscher Lifelong Learning program, and twice tried to return to the
classroom, unsuccessfully.
I live on a beautiful lake in the woods. There I have found other ways to
satisfy this itch. I read Spanish novels—challenging, but what a great sense of
accomplishment when I have completed an Isabel Allende or Gabriel Garcia
Marquez work. My husband begs me to play at least some music in English
rather than Spanish. I watch movies in Spanish—ok, sometimes subtitled! I
love being immersed in nature. And I write, often in Spanish.
Here is a little poem I wrote one day. I am sure it may have some
Spanish stylistic errors. I dedicate it to my hispanohablante
(Spanish-speaking) sisters in DKG, asking their forgiveness for
my language shortcomings! After all, I am still learning—
and finally knowing—that “Yes, there is More!”

Special Note: The author has provided the English
translation of the poem. She comments, “It is so difficult
to translate creative works. I have tried, taking some
liberties to try to capture the spirituality of the piece.”

Peggy King is a member of Alpha Lambda Chapter in Louisiana State Organization, where she is a past president (2003–2005) and recipient of
the Achievement Award. She taught public school for 23 years and has been a teaching assistant in the Louisiana State University Departments of
Geography and Anthropology and Economics. With a BS in Spanish, speech, and social studies education, an MA in cultural anthropology, and an MS+30
in curriculum and instruction, King has served on several DKG International committees and has chaired the U.S. Forum. She has also been a guest
lecturer on Maya culture on various cruise ships. yucatur@aol.com

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