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| We’ll be getting our new camera soon, Watch our photos greatly improve! Tom and Jess last night at Tom’s 42 year retirement party. |
No words I can possibly write can express the gratitude we feel for the warmth and love we experienced last night at Tom’s 42 year retirement party.
With over 150 guests in attendance we both made every effort to talk to everyone. If we missed you, we apologize. Of course, with me having lost my voice a few days ago, I was unable to hostess in my usual chatty manner. Perhaps, it was nature’s way of telling me to shut up and listen. Which I did.
The thoughtful and generous gifts, the hilarious and heartwarming cards, the hysterical photos of Tom over the years and of course, the appearance of Alfred E. Newman in disguise made Tom feel so appreciated and loved. Thank you everyone! Thank you so much! We are so grateful.
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| Tom’s 42 years on the railroad warranted a special cake. This fully edible cake is held together by the gifted hands of the fine baker and the stiff fondant. |
My amazing co-hostess, daughter-in-law Camille, interminably hard working throughout the busy evening, made time to enjoy the festivities as well. Thank you, my dear, for being there for us during this important event finding myself sick and slightly exhausted from the overwhelming recent preparations.
Tom’s co-workers, many known for over 40 years, many now also retired came in droves to celebrate Tom and one another for a near lifetime of great stories and memories. The wives, partners and girlfriends I’ve come to adore over the years filled the room with well wishes and great memories of our own. We will miss you all.
Tom’s family, the ultra large pack of fun and friendly individuals came from all over, some having come a long way. They told endless stories resulting in non-stop laughter and the usual teasing of one another. Thank you family. We love and appreciate you all.
The cake made by Raven, baker extraordinaire at Cub Foods in Shorewood, Minnesota spent days preparing this fully edible cake. Her passion and enthusiasm were only surpassed by her attention to detail. We couldn’t have been more pleased with the cake. Thanks, Raven!
It appeared everyone had a great time enjoying the food and beverages and most of all, the conversation and warmth from one unbelievable group of people.
In three more days, we’ll pack Tom’s car and head down the road on the first leg of our world wide adventure…two months in Scottsdale doing paperwork, finalizing medical appointments, obtaining visas and second passports and purchasing and setting up all of our digital equipment. They’ll be a few side trips to Nevada to visit family including a rental house in Henderson over Christmas.
Although this portion of our trip will be less exciting than that which transpires at the end of the two month period when we officially leave the US, we will keep you informed along the way.
We’ll share details of the necessary processes of the paperwork and logistics portion of the tasks required to leave the US for years to come, the security measures we employ for our health, wellbeing and safety, the people we meet along the way and the trepidation and joy we experience in the process.
Thank you for reading and for joining us two traditional, stay-at-home “creatures of habit” as we venture out into this unknown territory leaving everything and everyone we love behind us, in an effort to fulfill what may prove to be the experience of a lifetime.