I stand as an observer at Alan’s work retirement
celebration. He had friends,
co-workers, County Commissioners, the Director of Development, and the County
Administrator in attendance. It’s
nice to see and hear people appreciating him for his work. His retirement
celebration has heart-rending moments. It provides the opportunity for
co-workers and others he worked with to tell him how much they appreciate him and
to say good bye. It is the good bye
that doesn’t really sink for quite awhile. In many ways, the events could be likened to a graduation
from high school or college. It is
a moment in time that you desire and work toward. It arrives and then you realize all the people who have been
with you through the experience won’t be coming with you. What a bummer!
Last night he mentioned that today he would turn in his
key. Turning in the key is
hard. It is the final break. You can’t return unless you are invited
in. I struggled with turning in my
key. In fact, I discovered I had
an extra key and was going to return it when I went back for a baby shower, but
then forgot it. Or maybe I meant
to forget it. It gave me
comfort.
As I have thought about Alan’s retirement and then mine, I
realize that in some ways I retired from my relationship with Shadow. How awful and what a realization for
me. Magnum is now my partner in
obedience, agility, and tracking training. Being a puppy, he demands attention. Shadow’s blindness and her age have
caused her to slow down. She can’t chase after me or demand attention the way a
puppy does. Or maybe she does it
in a different more subtle way. I need to begin to rectify this situation and will keep
you posted.
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