RETIREMENT DAY - It’s about the PEOPLE

When an individual logs in 30 years of dedicated service, 22 with many of the same staff, it says a lot about that person’s character and leadership ability.  Add in four years of college, four of professional schooling plus three years advanced training, and the grand total rockets to 40 years.  What an astonishing commitment of time, energy and endurance. This will be a retirement well earned!

 I’m married to a man who does serious work and has always led with a steady hand.  So many of our Veterans have been cared for, helped, healed… thousands in fact, have benefitted from his diligence.  I’ve been right at his side these past 40 years.  I’ve seen what made this stellar career possible.   He may have given much, but he has gained much in return.
I know what makes this special man tick.

 It was all about the PEOPLE.

 The people you work for can make your job easier or make it a living hell.  TZ has had the honor and privilege of working with some of the smartest, kindest, fairest of “Boss” people.   They touched us deeply by showing up from far and wide for his retirement wing-ding.  Thank you for your gracious hospitality and laudatory remarks.

Speeches were made, honors bestowed, awards given.   We estimate the mileage accrued from 22 years of back and forth trips to Houston is roughly equivalent to driving cross-country 100 times!

 But these great People made it worth while.

(you can click to enlarge any photo)

 

Our Clinic has always been blessed with the most extraordinary Volunteers.  They lighten the burden of the overworked, underpaid and incredibly dedicated staff.  The place simply could not run smoothly without them.  We coax in these generous People with tempting sugary treats.
YUM. CAKE !!!

 

 

The Staff, what can you say about the amazing Staff?
Superlatives fail.
They are the BEST PEOPLE!
Irreplaceable.

An experienced, professional, unmatchable Team.
With quivering voices,  many of you spoke heart warming words and heaped upon us many, many gifts.
Thank goodness there was no shortage of comedy and good will to squelch what might have been a gigantic tear soaked sentimental sob-session.

 

We received items of unsurpassed creativity.  This statue in the likeness of the Retiree, created by the very talented wood carving artist KEVIN MALONE,  has TZ’s white coat emblazoned with a Star Fleet emblem.  He’s holding the Enterprise in one arm and the Beatles “White Album” in the other.

TZ  won’t admit to the resemblance, but as you can see, it’s almost his eerie twin.  I’ve placed mini-tz on the tank of the powder room toilet.
When you sit down to do your business you can just catch a glimpse of him in the mirror opposite, peering over your shoulder.

It’s enough to scare the… well, you know.

Seems an appropriate place for the totem when we’re home.
I’m planning to take the spooky little dude with us on our Motorhome travels. I’ll snap his picture with interesting backdrops.
Imagine how great he’ll look with Devils Tower in the distance.

 We especially admire our Hawaiian shirts.
Too bad we can’t get Beauregard Le Motorhome to the Islands.
Thanks Lynn, we adore them. Aloha!

 

The most treasured gift has to be this beautiful paddle. It boasts an engraved picture of the facility and is signed by all the Staff.  Having had the opportunity to design and build TWO facilities, daunting though these tasks may have been, this represents an especially precious memory.  Our beautiful, priceless treasure will be displayed proudly as a daily reminder of the People who created this magnificent tribute.

 

The extremely talented Jeff D. hand-carved two walking sticks that are far too handsome and whimsical to ever be stuck in a muddy stream bed.  And let us not forget Jeff’s mind-meltingly luscious chicken pasta, a dish so yummy, so enticing, that only the greatest amount of will power stops you from stealing a second helping.
It should be against the law.

 There aren’t any pictures of the custom-bound photo memory book and so many other heart-felt and appreciated items.
Thank you all for everything. We are overwhelmed by your kindness.

 There was plenty of hugging, hand-shaking, smiles, tears, and laughter.

                                                                                                                              

We had a wonderful time.

Today TZ awoke knowing he’ll never have to set an alarm clock for work again.  He’ll finish cleaning off his almost empty office shelves, pack up the final frills and furbelows.  He’ll hand in his keys and I.D. badge, and pass the gauntlet.

 After a celebratory lunch with his gang of department chiefs, the penultimate act to our brand new life, my husband drives home from work one last time.  Today will be the most splendid Friday, the ultimate T.G.i.F.   After all these years I FINALLY get him all to myself.

 Hopefully, our delightful new identities as “The RV-ing Retirees”  will allow him to forget the stresses and strains and worries of the past 40 years.  We’re healthy and ready for new adventures.
 It has been an honor knowing each and every one of you. 

             With complete assurance I can guarantee one certain thing, he’ll never, NEVER forget the People.