Life Events

There are so many BIG life events happening for me right now.

The biggest one (after the grandbaby)is my retirement.  

My last full day of work is this Friday.

My official retirement date is August 7, but I am taking a week of vacation time.

I have so many mixed feelings about retiring.

I have worked at the University of Michigan for over 36 years now.

I love working in science.

I have enjoyed all the different people I have come to know and made lifelong friendships.

These arrived yesterday from my daughter.

Made me cry.

It was particularly special to me that she thinks so highly of me.

I can't really put into words how much knowing this means to me.

 Today I was working at my desk and turned my head and there were three of my co-workers standing to the other side of me with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers!  

 I met my best friend at work.

We used to work across the hall from each other.

She was in a clinical lab and I was in a different research lab.

We lost our funding and I needed a new lab.

Our administrative person found me a position in the lab I am in now.

Then we needed another person to fill a position so I suggested her.

They hired her and the rest, as they say, is history.

For much of my career, people would call us by the others name.

We had a lot of great adventures together in the lab.

Since Covid, we have been on different shifts.

I miss seeing her everyday and spending 8 hours talking off and on.

We spent the day together with our husbands last Friday on their new pontoon boat.

I am looking forward to spending more time together like this (not at work)

She is a few years behind me for retirement but looking down the path!

It is interesting where life takes you.

Having been a Spartan all my life I would never have guessed I would work at the other school.

It has been a great journey and I am looking forward to my new adventures.

Thanks for everything, Michigan!

Peace out!

~XOP~