"Getting rid of everything that doesn’t matter allows you to remember who you are. Simplicity doesn’t change who you are, it brings you back to who you are."

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Sunday Buffet

 *Sunday Buffet is my smorgasbord of random thoughts and observations.

This past week has been a tough one for me emotionally.  I suppose that's why there hasn't been many posts coming out of me. 

Dr T retired this week.  I've worked with Dr T for 11 years now.  His last surgery day was with us on Friday.  We had a nice retirement lunch after we finished procedures.  No big party.  He didn't want that.  Just "the gang" along with his wife and son.  Chinese food, presents and stories.

I was on post-ops with Dr T Saturday morning.  His very last patient knew he was retiring and thanked him for his excellent care and wished him a "Happy Retirement".  We finished up.  He handed me his keys to the building.  I gave him a big basket of fresh veggies from my garden.

We walked out to his car to stash everything in the back.  We hugged and stood there looking at each other like you do when you've known all along that this moment would come and you'd say all the right things but suddenly they're all stuck in your throat and your mind goes blank and you're standing there like a fool with nothing to say.

"You know how I appreciate you...."

"Yeah"....nodding my head "I appreciate everything too"....or something like that.

We both turned away and I walked out across the parking lot heading to my car on a hot Saturday morning in July.

I didn't think I would cry...But I did, and I am. 

Dr T has been a wonderful mentor, friend, coworker, firecracker, teacher and father to me.  Chapters close.  We all know that.  New chapters open.  Dr T said "Today is the first day of the rest of my life." 

I'm sort of envious of his new chapter.

4 comments:

  1. You were both blessed to learn from each other. What a great gift!

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  2. Wow! I can't imagine feeling that deeply about a co-worker. What a huge blessing that must have been for you! I'm praying ya get someone almost as wonderful to work with in future. I would have said, "as wonderful," but some people ya just can't replace, and Dr. T. sounds like one of them. Blessings to both of you.

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  3. Sounds like a great person. We don't come across many special people at work-it's a shame when they leave.

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  4. Awe, how could you not get choked up there? What a wonderful chapter his life is taking on. He will be missed!

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