CLAY AND WATTLES

"It"

Probably many of you have figured out what IT is... January 4 was in fact my dear grandmother Goobie's birthday. It is also the day I gave notice at work that I will retire this month - January 15. Now that I have written the letter, given it to my supervisor, told friends at work, celebrated my "graduation" with my daughter, husband, sister, friends, all that remains is the short wait! I talked to HR today, which really, I still am - in title. But Michael is handling all that now, trained for my job and will learn more and more as he goes along.

Now that IT is actually here, I can rejoice and look forward to checking off, adding to and ignoring my long to-do list. Just think, no more deadlines, no more schedules! No more work. I will be unemployed for the first time in over 45 years! (No, wait - there was that two weeks when Paul and I married and we moved to Wynne.) How wonderful! So much I want to do. So much I don't have to. I feel as if I've been given a huge box full of Time with a bright red bow. I'm thankful to God for time, for my health, and for the future.

My friends at work celebrated with me when I told them, some are looking forward to following me soon. It was sort of bittersweet, though, thinking of all the quick visits at work, hearing bits and pieces about family, stories of holidays, hearing about vacations, grandchildren, aging parents' health, learning of new babies, weddings (two in the near future!), consoling grieving families who lose loved ones. I still will know but it will be different. Some I've worked with as long as 40 years and I won't see them every day! The outside crews I won't see every morning before they go out to the field, those big ol' boys - that "band of brothers." I used to be surprised when one was hired and I was old enough to be his mother; now it is to the point I'm old enough to be some of the newer ones' grandmother!

I do have a list of things to take care of - medical appointments, check-ups/follow-ups. Visiting the Social Security office - ack!! Me?? Social Security? Well, it's part of the deal and it's really okay - just glad to sign up for it! I'm thankful for a good retirement and that I've had the opportunity to see my wee little nest egg grow up. The next "big" thing on my wait-list is to go visit my sister in Panama City. Indefinitely. Or till we start fighting! Which I doubt will ever happen.

So much to dream about, so many things I can now do during the day that I never could before. So many books to read, movies to watch, stuff to clean out, mornings to sleep late, naps to take!

Yea for me!!