July 15, 2021 LAST DAY

 Well, I did it! I retired after 26 years at the Sherratt Library.  Woo Hoo!

My last day at work included an escorted bike ride TO work, and a highly-decorated bicycle for the bike ride home FROM work. Apparently it's a biker thing. Maybe in Holland--Ha ha. It was all Anne's doings. It made us all laugh and I did get many smiles on the way home. Mike and I went to Milt's for dinner and took Kim and Terri Hunter with us and played games together after.

I really wondered why Anne was SO insistent that I ride my bike on the last day of work. I had all kinds of excuses NOT to ride it--a sore hip joint I've been nursing, heavy things to bring with me, etc.  But she prevailed and I consented to have her escort me for the entire 3 minute commute. It is downhill, so if my hip was hurting, I could always call Mike to give me ride home, I suppose.

But she didn't even have to work that day!  She just escorted me, took a photo or two of me parking my bike and gave me hug. Then she rode home to leave and go with Prof. Emily Dean and head to Capitol Reef National Park to pick apricots and go hiking. And Mike dropped off my heavy items. (Bookends made of library Marble.)

She did, however, leave instructions with Trudy to do it up good, so when I left at 5 pm, I found my bicycle beautifully decorated at the bike rack. Trudy had asked me several times that day, "What time are you leaving?" and when she came to the Circ desk to say goodby, she not only took a picture of the two of us, but also said, "I'll just walk to your bike with you," which by then was really making me wonder and EVERYONE followed us out to the bike rack.

 Yep. Balloons and floral leis. It was really cute and colorful.  So off I went, into the sunset. (Quite literally.)

And here's what it looks like as a centerpiece on my table.

Such sweet co-workers.  They'll be missed.

My Circulation co-workers also gifted me with a lovely honey bee platter (and cupcakes!) and a charming locket necklace. It also has a honey bee on it.  Gee, I decorate my kitchen with a honeybee theme and EVERYthing is now "bees."  Ha. Or, as Gail put it, "Sheesh. You attend one international Bee Keeping Convention and everyone just thinks you love all things Apiarian."  Well, I do love bees because they are important.

Here's the platter. Below is the ONLY photo Mike got of me leaving for work on Thursday. He didn't wait until I looked up, unfortunately. ;-)  My favorite noon-time exercise person (and super-duper network administrator who helped so much, and even encouraged me to apply for the Circulation Coordinator position those many years ago) went in with the Copy Shop ladies and they gave me a gift certificate for Lady Bug Nursery. Because they know how much I like working in my yard and gardening.

And here's a photo of  "my" bees. Because they work in my back yard and I love their work and the results of their work.

Happy Retirement to me!  On to spending more time with the folks and maybe just sleeping in a bit. Because I can.

Or perhaps I should work at getting the back yard put back together. All I've done so far is plant a few tomato plants and dug up some irises.  What's left?  Oh, more irises to dig and some to plant, stairs for the deck, a new basement window on the north side of the house, a small retaining wall, lots of moved dirt, concrete work, landscaping, lawn. . .and more. Hopefully a nice peach crop. 

And lots and lots of lots more raspberries to pick all summer long. Yum Yum.  Let me know when you're coming for pie. I'll be ready!