Retire That Alarm Clock

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We all knew it was a miracle that my dad recovered and was able to go back to work. Work to him was this thing, a fixated station in life that if he could get back to, he would feel normal. I know from speaking with my mom that it was not an easy process nor did his witch of a boss make it easy on him; she wanted him out. But he persevered. He wanted to retire when he had always planned to retire!

We watched for that time with bated breath. Due to health insurance they thought about asking to extend his retirement a tad, but it was not to be (as I mentioned, witch boss). As a family we wanted to get together to celebrate this very momentous occasion for many reasons.

1) He was here with us still
2) He had recovered enough to go back to work and feel useful
3) He had been at one company for over two decades
4) He had been working for ... nearly his entire life. From the time he could work as a pre-teen his father made him work to provide money for the house, in fact the only time he's ever had a respite from working is when he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (not really not working, is it?)
5) He'd worked hard to provide us with a comfortable roof over our heads, food on the table, vacations, sports equipment, spending money, braces (for two of us at least) etc.

It so happened that over Easter weekend Neil was going to be in town for work and I had a flex Friday. So we spent time researching a respectable present for him (decided on a Rolex watch for dad and a Prada make-up bag for mom), Derek made a reservation at a swanky restaurant and we all met to honor the end of one chapter of my dad's life and celebrate the next. Not that he'll ever sleep in, but at least he won't have to set an alarm clock if he doesn't want to!

It was a fancy feast that I, sitting in between Beckham and Clancey, was instructed to document the meals and desserts. It was a lovely time. Always a bit too short with little kiddos in the mix, but what was most important was that we had all weekend to celebrate and that we were all together.

Here is to many years of new and fulfilling adventures ahead.

p.s. the thank you note I received later in the mail is a true prize. I don't have many notes from my dad so, while my dad is different ... it isn't all bad.