Work is Done

Stix n Brix, NC

This week was my last few days at work.  It felt odd to turn in all my uniforms and other property and walk out feeling naked.  It sure emptied out the closet quite a bit.  Friday was the last day so there was one last bit of formality to tend to.  A party at the Downtown District.  It was a very hot, pretty day.

 

I showed a few pics from the stationhouse the other day but I like this one too.  The badge is painted on the wall in the locker room.

Chief Dolan presented me with my retirement badge (yes he’s 6’8” tall) and Deputy Chief Deck-Brown presented me with a plaque.

 

Captain Craghead gave me a nice card that included a very generous collection from the District guys.  The note said it was for RV gas.  It was a heartfelt thanks and a surprise.

I had an opportunity to express a few words of thanks.  There was more that I wanted to say but I had to make it short and sweet so that I wouldn’t get choked up.  After the formalities, it was time to cut the cake.  It’s neat how it’s decorated with the badge.  I love the bouquet of flowers.

 

I’m glad Gin was able to join in on the fun.  She was behind the camera, but she was there along with about 50 folks.  I got lots of hugs and handshakes.

 

Those beautiful flowers made it home to our dining room and they smell so good.  Maybe they will bring us luck because Saturday was another house showing.  The house has been on the market since the beginning of June and this was the third showing, two of which look promising.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

An Ending to a Beginning

Stix n Brix
Clayton, NC

Gin’s parents are about to move into a new house so we have helped them clear out their garage.  They are in the midst of some health issues right now so they are under a lot of stress.  We spent the day with them on Friday (over 100* heat) clearing out their MH.  They are trying to sell it so they have put an ad for it in their local paper and Gin put it on Craigslist for them.  It’s a 2003 Winnebago Adventurer 35U and it is immaculate with new tires to boot.  If it were a DP, it might be in our driveway.

 

They didn’t get a chance to travel the country like we hope to do soon, but they did enjoy their time in it while visiting a son’s family in Florida, taking the boat to Lake Jordan to join us for a get away, or Thanksgiving with another son at Cedar Point NC.  We have enjoyed many great meals and many card games that I have lost at their table.

 

They have many great memories but realize that it is time for someone else to make memories in this MH.  My mother went through this several years ago shortly after my father died.  They had enjoyed a few cross-country trips on theirs and made many great memories and Mom has said that cleaning it out was the hardest thing that she has ever done.

 

So if any of you in blogland know of anyone near NC that wants a nice used MH, have them check it out in Craigslist Raleigh area.  I sure wish Merikay was here instead of California because it would be a good fit for her and Craig.

Oh, by the way, I’m doing really good transitioning this weekend.  Thursday was the last day in uniform and I feel like I’m floating.  So much pressure is off now so I guess I am lighter weight (in some respects).

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Last Few Days

Stix n Brix
Clayton, NC

It’s getting really close now.  It really hit me about a week or so ago.  I only have a couple more days in uniform so I’m savoring it.  I can already tell that when I get ready to put it on again Thursday morning for the last time, I will have mixed emotions.  When I take it off that evening, I won’t.  I’ll only be relieved.  It has been interesting to know that this will be my last Sunday of work.  I’m just not good enough with words to describe how I feel.  I will miss a lot of aspects of the job certainly, but I can hardly wait to shed many other aspects.  The people I work with are fantastic.  I know that I will probably never see many of them again and that’s sad.

I’ve been assigned to the Front Desk of the Downtown District for the past year and a half.  I’ve spent most of my career working in the office instead of on patrol.  No it’s not as glamorous as the real cops and robbers game out there, but it’s a job that not everyone can do.  Here’s a shot of the desk and several cars lined up for a biannual inspection.

 

Raleigh is known as the City of Oaks sort of like New York City is the Big Apple.  On New Years Eve, the count down drops a big Acorn.  This is the view from the front door of the station.  There is the new Downtown Arena and the Civic Center with a shimmer wall depicting an oak tree.  They have a few concerts there during the summer.

 

It’s really pretty at night when they have different color lights reflecting on it.  Often times, people will just pull their car over and take pictures of it.  Raleigh really is a nice city to live if you like an urban environment.

But I’m ready to move on to the next stage of life.  I’ve come to realize that you spend the first 20 years or so learning about living, your next 30 years or so earning a living, and the rest of your life living with gusto.  Now it’s gusto time!

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

A Rumor

Stix n Brix
Clayton, NC

Someone (Gin) posted a vicious rumor on her facebook page recently.  She said something about celebrating my 50th birthday the other day.  Well that's just not true!  It was my birthday and indeed it was my big  5 0, but it wasn't much of a celebration.  I worked that day!  The delicious dinner of grilled chicken, corn on the cob, spinach, and biscuits was very nice to come home to though.  Thanks Gin!

Her parents gave me a card that said "This birthday is just the beginning of years of when you'll be in your prime, so welcome to brand-new adventures and life's most enjoyable time!".  The card from my Mom said "Fifty years old is a great age to be- You know who you are and in life, this is key... You've done many things, but there's still more to do... New goals to be met and dreams to come true,  New people and places and reasons to be glad- Enough to make fifty the best year you've had."  Gin's card in part said "I know the things that make life happy can't be bought...like love, time, and kindnesses- yet they're the best gifts of all..."  I think all of these passages hold true and really relate well to the fulltime rv lifestyle.  Something tells me that they all know me pretty well.

A quick welcome is extended to our most recent follower, Nina who has that wonderful website that I encourage everyone to check out.  It sounds like she's having a great summer out west.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life's journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.