The Not Working Retired

Wow, it's a red letter week with me posting twice!  I mentioned to Jack that it seems like we have been on a dead run since Fall began.  I wish it was because I was doing some fabulous things, but really it's just been normal stuff...like work...and...work...and work at home...and OK, we did play hooky last weekend and enjoyed our Saturday adventures.  But I wanted to tell about another activity I enjoyed.  Last Friday I went to a retirement party for one of my co-workers (who just happens to also be a neighbor!).  Elaine has worked at our hospital for 45yrs as a dedicated RN.  Samaritan Hospital used to have a nursing school attached to it. Elaine graduated from there and has worked with SamHO ever since.  She's one of those people that never gets angry.  Well, I've never seen her angry anyway! She always has a smile on her face, a quiet demeanor, a class act.  A good nurse.  She and her hubby are moving to Florida and the house is up for sale.  I wish her tons of happiness, sunshine and no snow for once in her life! Here are a few pics from the evening.

Here she is with that special smile!

The gifts and cards

The beautiful flowers. Donna (Starkey Hollow), made the pumpkin one! So cute!

Donna and I made a candy bar card for her....if you've never made one of these you should give it a try...so fun! Just get candy bars and substitute them for words..like telling Elaine she was a "Lifesavor" for her patients..see..easy!

We got her the usual timepiece that retirement folks get. But ours is so pretty and special. The picture on the face is Samaritan Hospital as it looked back in the 1920's. It's from an old postcard from that era. I noticed the date on the postcard as 1910.  It must have been an architect's drawing of the then, future hospital, since SamHo wasn't built until the 1920's.  I love the saying: "When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece"....so true for her!  She wasn't the only one retiring this month.  One of our Docs...Dr. Krish...retired after 40yrs.  He's a urologist and I'm going to post some pics that I took today at our "carry-in" luncheon we had for him.  One of our talented nurses made a very special cake for him.  Now, you have to remember that we're a weird group with bathroom humor...especially if a party is for a urologist.  So pardon the cake and it's meaning...well, it was really funny!

Here's Doctor Krish (on the left), his lovely wife, and a photo bomb in the back on the TV! 

Donna and I made him a candy bar card too! He loved it! We also had his personal X-Ray apron framed.  Many moons ago he purchased an apron that had a big smiley face on the front with his initials embroidered in the corner. It was blue striped and so cute.  But the best part was the fact it was nice and light to wear. (shhhh..I usually stole wore it when he wasn't working!)  We only had the smiley face part framed..anyway I forgot to snap a pic of it..dang it!  He loved that too, but really the crazy cake stole the show....I could tell a funny story about it, but I'm going to refrain....Anyway, I hope both these folks enjoy retirement...I hope they have as many years of retirement as they had working to get to this point. Also, I'm jealous.......

However, I don't want this kind of cake when I leave...seriously.