My wonderful family threw a retirement party for me Saturday night and I wish I had instant replay so I could enjoy it all over again – it was such fun! Several friends couldn’t attend due to so many graduation events and vacations but on reflection I realized that for once at a party, I really got to spend quality time with everyone there. I didn’t know all the details until I actually got to the party so there were plenty of surprises waiting for me.
All of our kids went together and gave me an awesome full-sized wrought-iron bicycle which they decorated with little white lights and then filled the baskets with flowers – it now has a spot of honor around the pool. The bike was sitting outside the club house where they had the party and had a nice sign on it proclaiming my upgrade to Life 2.0. To further confirm my new status, friends Robin and Vickie had new business cards made for me – and of course included the fact that I’m an official “Woman of Substance” (one of only three!). When we had dinner a few weeks ago, I gave them my temporary cards which consisted of my current business card with a mailing label stuck to the back with my home address, phone and email. Being the classy ladies they are, they instantly recognized how tacky they were and fixed it so I have wonderful new cards to proclaim my status in Life 2.0. Thanks ladies – and yes, the official “thank you” notes will be in the mail soon!
Back to the party – all I can say is I know Burl, Tammy, Ralph, and Cindy put an incredible amount of time and effort into making it happen and I’m thankful I don’t know all the details since I’m well aware of how headstrong and opinionated each of them is. I caught enough snippets of conversation to know they did not always agree and I figure the less I know, the better. One of those times when it truly helps to be clueless.
The centerpiece of the party was the commercial margarita machine they rented. This puppy had 2 sides so you could get regular frozen ‘ritas or strawberry – or mixed which was the option I chose. The new Bud Light Lime was also a hit along with the Mexican feast they had catered. Since several people didn’t RSVP, we had plenty of food – and drink – left and the girls are already planning for a rerun of party food and drink over the 4th of July when Ralph is here again.
Best of all, when the party was over, they insisted we leave (probably more to get rid of Burl than me!) and they did all the cleaning up – such a deal. If this is a perk of senior status, count me in. Thanks to the kind and complimentary words of my boss at the party, I guess I will have to buckle down and get some work done for the next 3 weeks – then I can officially say “School’s Out – Let Life 2.0 Begin!”
