Dear Friends,
The idea of retirement came
to me one stressful Saturday afternoon, about a month ago. I was having a hard
time writing report cards, a part of my job that I had always enjoyed. Comments
wouldn’t come to me as easily as they used to neither would adjectives nor verbs.
For hours I typed, cut, pasted, copied, stared at the white screen, and then
started all over again. When I realized I’d rather do anything else, including
clean my apartment, I knew the end was near.
I blame my quick decision to
retire on the Wood Horse, the Chinese astrological sign, under which I was
born. Of course, my age, declining memory and increasing inability to handle stress
played a bigger role, but I would like to believe that the fast and furious
horse made me do it.
On January 31, as I savoured a
delicious New Year meal in a beautiful Chinese restaurant, I declared my
freedom!
the day you announced your retirement to me in the office was a sad one indeed. of course i was feeling selfish in wanting you to stay. i will miss you waltzing into the office with grace, making us laugh with your quick wit and envying your endless "joie de vivre!"
ReplyDeletei've cherished our friendship these last 17 years and i know it will continue after you've left these hallowed halls of allenby.
all i have to say to you is, soldier on, wooden horse...soldier on!