The Last Day...

Natureman off for his last day of work...

For those of you that have kids I bet you have a photo in some album of your child's first day of going off to school, right?  All spiffed up with the excitement of the new world that lay ahead...

Well yesterday here in the End of the Rainbow Valley, we had a very similar scene of a culmination of 40 some odd years of heading out the door for work for Natureman. The smile was one of mixed feelings as this was his last day of work.

For about 22 years on Thursdays, the alarm has gone off at 5:30 am to rouse a sleeping Natureman for his work day in  Richland Center.  He didn't have to leave until 7:10 for the hour drive but the man has his 'ritual.' There were chores to be taken care of before heading out... In the winter wood has to be brought in to make the day's fire and there are animals to be fed after a leisurely cup of coffee and his bowl of granola.

There were only 2 appointments awaiting this last work day as his clients have been weaned off to other therapists and last week's blizzard cancelled his scheduled work day and the 'surprise' retirement party his coworkers had planned.  When previously asked about a party, he in his humble way had said it wasn't necessary... but he had seen a flyer in the lunchroom announcing the 'surprise' farewell.

So at lunchtime when he walked into the lunchroom, there plastered all over the walls were copies of his picture and table bedecked with sub sandwiches, a sheet cake with the same photo, cards and small tokens of appreciation with his coworkers awaiting him. 

He heard things that make one feel good of how he had touched lives, taught them and his importance in his clients's lives. 

There was his desk/office to be cleared out which probably didn't fill half a brown paper bag as the man saves nothing unlike yours truly.

So people ask now " What are you going to do in your retirement?"  Natureman has basically done all the things  that make him happy which I am sure he will continue doing as long as he physically can- cycling, canoeing, cross country skiing...  He will continue his social activism, the Power line work to try to keep unnecessary lines from crossing the Mississippi into our area. And I have a distinct feeling that he will find some volunteer clinic / support group work that can use his expertise.  This senior has a lot still to offer the world.

He hasn't ever been a traveler per se but has spoken of wilderness adventures like hiking down in the Grand Canyon- But for now I know that he will be content just to have another day for walking his beloved End of the Rainbow Valley... Happy Retirement Natureman!