Lunch Bunch

Got into the retirement mode today by going to lunch with some old friends most of whom retired well before I did. We did have a couple of young whipper snappers who are still working. We had such a good time we plan to do it again next month. This may be an ongoing group thing for us. I hope so anyway. I'll bet the group is a little larger next time. My friend Brenda took pictures and she really does a good job with her camera, don't you think? I'm only going to post a couple because I don't know if the other ladies would appreciate me posting their individual pictures, but here is mine.

I'm here on the left and the biggest one in the group. One of these ladies has lost 104 lbs. I think I found it! Got to do a little something about that but I for sure am not giving up eating entirely. I really enjoy a good meal too much for that. I think she did a really good job on my picture. The group picture is not as good as the picture of me because Brenda didn't take it; the waitress did. The restaurant where we ate is over 100 years old and one of Alabama's most famous. The walls are painted with murals that a traveling artist painted in the early 1900's. Usually a crowded place but today not so crowded. Must be another sign of the bad economy. I hope all have a great weekend. Till Later - God Bless.

It's a good thing you all can't get your hands around my neck or I know you would all just choke me, but I'm back. I can't really explain what happened. Just needed to take some time off. Blogging was getting to be a job and I already had one of those. Seems like a good thing now that I'm retired to try a little bloggin again. Many things have happened since I posted last. I retired and Joy graduated from nursing school and unforturnately our little kitty was killed by a car. David was very sad to lose his cat and surprisingly so was I. Even though I've never liked cats, that little kitty really got to my heart.

My work family gave me a WONDERFUL surprise retirement party before I left. It is certainly

a memory I will always treasure. Here are some of the photos from that day.

( In the picture to the right- is my son, Brian in the green shirt with his back to camera; my friend Jane ( and Sue's from the Cotton Patch) in brown pants; my daughter Joy; and hubby Charlie).

I tried to hug everyone's neck but I just never got all the way around the room. I said it was a lot like attending your own funeral except you're not dead yet. There was a room full of wonderful friends many I've known since I went to work there 20+ years ago and some I've only know since our college was merged with another community college five years ago. The picture with my eyes covered is of me with the president of the college when I went to work on my left (your right) and the merged college president on my right. They both spoke briefly but I had more history with Dr. Bailey so he had all the sorted stories to tell. He is telling one here and I'm having a difficult time not refuting some of what he is saying. Oh well, I was so struck that he came back for my party. And he was not the only old friend from 20 years ago who was there. I was absolutley blown away to have such a wonderful send off.

Friends and family all did a wonderful job of keeping this one a secret, too. I had not one clue!!!! Al from the bookstore called my office and said he had found some old things in the back and he wanted me to come see them now. Even as I was walking upstairs to see what he had found, I never suspected. Not until I opened the door and there everyone was. You can't imagine how special that was. Thanks for everything to all of you.

As for retirement itself, I've been sleeping a lot. Got to find a goal here soon; something to be productive. We are planning to leave this Sunday on a three week trip in the motorhome. I'm taking my laptop so maybe I won't be gone from blogland so long this time. Please forgive me for the long absence. And thanks to all of you who posted concerns about me. You are all very special folks.

Till later - God bless.