My first big Retirement party was on Thursday, March 28 at the Heatley Pub in Vancouver. A fine musical time was had by all! Kathleen Nisbet and friends came to play. Len brought his banjo, I brought the stand-up bass and we played a few tunes, but mostly visited and ate and drank. There was a wonderful honouring ceremony before the festivities began in earnest. Very humbling.
Len and Emma (the dog) spent a day at Stanley Park while I worked my last day in the office. Last meetings, last emails, last out the door at the end of the day. I had things to finish up, and so one by one my co-workers popped by to say a last goodbye, or didn't and slipped out the door until it was eerily quiet and I realized there was no one left but me.
Len reminded me that no matter where you are in the city, the noise never stops. It is never truly quiet. I guess that is true. Even walking on the beach at English Bay there was an underlying hum of activity, human speech, traffic noise and even the electric buzz of wires. We sure noticed the quiet on the first night back, sitting in the hot tub in the dark, dark night listening to....well, nothing. Not even a breeze.
Yesterday (Sunday) was the first time I got out into the garden for 2019. I cleaned out the greenhouse, picked up dog poop (!) and then cleaned the first of my 2 large flower beds. My back and legs were a bit tired by the end of it all.
The first Monday morning when I didn't have to get up and go to work was today. Being April Fools, Len made a secret call from his cell and then informed me it was work calling with a questions. Ha ha, got me!
Another first which is strangely delightful also happened today. I put my laundry out on the line for the first time this year. How lovely to hear the birds singing and feel the breeze as I hung out all those clean duds. Small things, but such are the things that bring true joy.
Happy socks and duds on the line
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