Wasn't that a party!
The Last Party has come and gone and in its wake left a swirl of memories for me to re-visit.
So many people were a huge part of my life these last 21 years at the library. That so many of you are still here is a testament to the harmonious and extraordinary workplace we all enjoy. Even a few who left made the journey back last night.
- Scott and his wife Cheryl drove up from Calgary, to my great delight.
- Paula came. She brought me into the library and was there last night to watch me leave.
- There were a few who retired before me or changed careers, like Violet, Lois, Frances and Heather.
- Leslie read from "A Minor Planet for You", a book she dedicated to me and Glen (not together). I was so overwhelmed when she did that. My name is actually in print. Well, shockingly it's quite widely in print on the 'net as Dean told the crowd.
- Ann, hired fresh from the UK way back when, was startled to learn that she was coming into a library peopled by women with tarty names
- Tom, a long serving board chair and fellow gardening enthusiast welcomed me into retirement with a membership to the Friends of the Library
- Hazel, board chair when I joined the library and Nancy, our most recent chair, were there as were several members from the current and past board. Thank you!
- Lesley, who runs the fabulously successful booksale, helped me fill my new library bag with contraband books to fuel my leisure time for when I officially lauch my retirement in an upcoming long day Mediterranean cruise
- I was delighted to see Paul and Lyndal, friends who share our love of travel and who gave us the link that led to our recent trip to Thailand
- Glynis and Paul, artists who do so much for the library, wished me well
- My friend Gail, with whom I was supposed to share a recent holiday but who instead lent me a shoulder when I cancelled due to Alethea's surgeries, came by
My friends at Dawe, Jill, Sharlene and Celia who reminded me not to forget Dawe on my visits to the library- the wonderful commissionaires Jim and Irene, who have promised not to ticket me if I park overlong in the library's 10 minute parking zone. Remember, you read it here so it must be true! And they brought along our commissionaire Patrick from long ago.
- Dean, who put together the entertaining powerpoint presentation with statistics that sum up 20 years: 200 board meetings, 1000 Mondays, 1000 complaints fielded, 1000 compliments shared, and delivered it with his trademark witty commentary. You can see it if you copy and paste the following link into your browers: http://www.rdpl.org/documents/Bye,%20Lo.pdf
- Vanessa, with whom I probably shared more awake time than with Hans, and who encouraged my humour
- Mayor Morris and Hazel who made this one of their 3 stops for the evening, which really touched me.
- And finally, all my many co-workers who have made my years at the library so wonderful. From those who knew me near the beginning, to those who joined along the way, to our most recent additions: you gave me a theatre in which to practice my wit. I loved it. Nothing made me happier than when I made you laugh.
To the Ladies from the Social Committee: How can I begin to thank you? From start to finish you turned this into such a classy affair. Your fine touches transformed the Art Gallery and Snell into such a warm and beautiful venue. From the crisp white cloths to the flickering tea candles and twinkling fairy lights, the room was magical. The food was simply amazing; as picture perfect as anything I've seen and so very tasty. I think it's time you put together another cookbook as a fundraiser! You know I'm after some of those recipes and I await them eagrly. Thank you so much for the huge effort you put into making this evening so special. I loved the punch fountain. It smelled so deliciously fruity I was almost tempted to try it. But you know it was overshadowed by my favourite beverage right beside it.
And then came presents!
"Look! You got presents even though you've been bad," said Alethea, which I shamelessly plagiarized when I got on stage to open the gifts. Alethea was my beautiful date last night, filling in for her dad who's trekking across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. She was also my driver and photographer for the evening.
The beautifully melodic windchime. I didn't realize until today when I hung it on the deck that when the breeze tickles it just right, it plays the beginning chords of "Amazing Grace". That's one of my favourite melodies of all time. How did you know? I am SO enjoying it right now.
The beautiful birdbath with its spinning ball fountain. Later I'll put it together and invite the birdies. We have a huge variety of pretty birds that flit through the trees and shrubs between our deck and creek and they will love this.
Your gifts show so much thought. Clearly, I have been an open book and you read me very well. Thank you for giving me these additional memories by which to remember you.
And finally, it was my plan to be the last to leave. Totally impossible. You not only dress up beautifully but you certainly have stamina for partying! Sorry, I just couldn't keep up and bowed out before the end.
Thank you all for a beautiful night. I hope I left you laughing.
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