I'm thinking of retiring from all my dirty deals...

Today was Mama Polt's last day of work, she is now officially retired. She spent 22 years and three months in the Federal Government working for a branch of FEMA.

She's so earned it. In my memory, she's been a billing secretary at a local oil company, a receptionist in the office of a housing development, a real estate agent, a janitor at a church, a retail clerk in a drug store, a librarian's aide in a government research facility, and then to her present job.

At this place, she's been, over the years, the secretary to one of the directors, worked in the procurement department, and spent the last several years in the budget office. Previously, she had top secret security clearance because NATO would hold meetings on their campus, and they needed a secretary there to take notes and they had to have top secret clearance for that. She also had a tour of a top secret underground facility that she's not allowed to say anything more about. After Hurricane Andrew ravaged Florida and Lousiana in 1992, she was one of MANY volunteers with FEMA to go to Louisiana and help process the claims. She was there for two weeks (this was back when FEMA was run as a Federal Emergency Agency, but state emergency agency chiefs that were promoted to the position, not when FEMA was run as a plumb appointment for high paying campaign contriubtors with no experience)

And during all of this, she was a homemaker, wife, and mother (to a bratty, not always greatful son).

She has certainly earned the retirement. Although, now she's probably gonna be busier than when she was working. She got about 12 things on a to-do list, including seeding the garden, resealing the driveway, resealing the deck, planting a bunch of flowers etc. She's got two or three places, at LEAST she wants to volunteer at. Plus, now that summer's here, there are several family members and other retired friends of hers, none of which work over the summer, that have already asked to go places and do things with her. And she's not the type to turn anyone down.

She had so much leave, she took off yesterday. Wednesday, the people in her office threw her an open house. Mom didn't want a party, she said at a party, you're stuck talking to the people sitting on either side of you. So at the open house, the co-workers set up the food and snacks and deserts and drinks in the room, her immediate co-workers were there with her, and from 2-4 in the afternoon, people from the campus could just stop in, grab something to eat, say hi to her, wish her luck, give her a card, and be on their way. Just what she wanted.

The lady organizing it, though, asked mom to make fudge to bring to it, cause NOBODY makes fudge like her. So she did. Mom made food to take to her own retirement. that's just like her.

Tonight, I took her to Olive Garden (it was her choice) for her retirement. We had a good meal, and great conversation, and a great time.

And I wanted to post this photo I took of her. That she is holding is NOT a sundae, but a flower arrangement made to look like a sundae! It's even got a straw! What will they think of next!



Just in case anyone would be interested, I set up a Yahoo account for the occasion. Send her an email at momsretired@yahoo.com and wish her the best, if you're so inclined.

POLT Listening to "Living Dead Girl" by Rob Zombie

If he's not careful, he might break a sweat...or a nail. - Ted, Queer As Folk