Anniversary Week Adventure

This is the week of our wedding anniversary.

Tonight we had a juice glass that slipped into the garbage disposal. I tried getting it out with my bare hands, and when that was not successful, I decided that putting some kind of tool into the disposal would work a lot better. So I called Geo into the kitchen for help. Well, half an hour later, having tried a tweezers, a mini vise grip, a nutcracker, and even two sets of tongs from the barbeque, we were no closer to getting out that glass. I was getting very short-tempered, feeling quite desperate and defeated. It was really wedged in there.

“Let me see what I can do,” says Geo. “But you have to leave…”

Thinking the worst and hoping for the best, I left the room. I tried to warn him about that little button inside the disposal that turns the thing on…, but he kept saying, “You’re going to have to leave if I’m going to do this…” (A and J, does that sound familiar?)

A little while later I returned to the kitchen and looked inside the disposal. No juice glass! Wait, there were a lot of broken pieces in there. Geo solved the problem. He broke the glass. Now what! This situation called for the wet-vac. I dragged the thing in from the garage, plugged in the hose and turned it on. A huge cloud of brown dust blew into my face. Ugh!

As I vacuumed all the little shards of glass out of the disposal, it dawned on me that this is one example of what marriage is about. Little did I think walking down the aisle those many years ago that part of the romance of our lives would be figuring out how to retrieve stuff from a garbage disposal. But we did it! Together the two of us were successful. Problem solved. Life is good.

I love you, Geo. Happy Anniversary!

Retirement Party

Or, maybe I should say Pre-retirement Send-off – I’m still on the job and counting down…

“Let me buy you a drink” after our team training session turned out to be one fantastic surprise party with our team from all parts of VT. Darlene – NOT in training- appeared from the far north, and Carla came bearing balloons and flowers from the far south. She even presented me with a hand-knit doll of ME at work – computer, badge and all. (Carla, the only thing you left out was that mug of coffee that keeps me motivating!)

It was a fab party – I’m still psyched about it two days later. I never had a party like that (but then I never retired before!). We had beverages and non-stop appetizers all evening long. To have my teammates Carla and Maxine together with all of us – AND – the big boss from Boston to party, well, it was beyond amazing. I had a really great time. I will miss you guys, you’re the BEST!

Cyndy, a huge thanks to you and to co-conspirators Deb and Carole for putting all this together, and for the Beeauutiful card and verse – the orchid is my favorite flower, how did you know??

Hugs to all of you!