Greatful

Tomorrow is my last day of work, but I said a lot of my good-byes today.

My coworkers threw one of their best luncheons ever and, boy, they can throw one tasty pot-luck! Our department is kind of known for them. Once we even had one to celebrate a new refrigerator, and it wasn’t even for storing food in. (Really, don’t ask what is stored in it)

So I wasn’t surprised that we had a potluck, or that I got to sit at the head of the table, but I was completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of well-wishes and generosity. Between the balsamic chicken, cheesy potatoes, crispy mung bean salad, bruschetta, homemade Caesar salad, to-die-for Ho-Ho cake, and more, I opened up the prettiest wrapped gift-box I have ever been given. Inside was not only a little cruising-kitty supplement to enjoy on a rainy (or not so rainy) day and a bird book for the West Indies (to help me cope with my impending Google shortage), but a highly personalized, decorated and signed t-shirt. I can’t even try to begin to explain it so I will just let be something I share with my tox family. But… It. Was. Perfect! 🙂

Beyond the food and the gifts and swirl of good-byes, the reoccurring emotion today was gratitude. Not that I was done, but that I have enjoyed, truly enjoyed, working the last several years. My coworkers are my friends. I laughed every day. Every. Single. Day. Sometimes with them, sometimes at them, and sometimes they laughed at me. Some days I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. I never dreaded going to work (though I did frequently wanted to go home before my day was done 😉 ) and I felt a true satisfaction from what I did. It’s key, I think. I’m also lucky, I think.

I have envisioned this day for a long time, I imagined that I would be filled with excitement to start my new adventure or sadness to leave friends, and while both were true today, mostly, I just felt overwhelmingly thankful for the past few years. Who knew.

It was a good, good day.

Thank you, Tox.

Where were we ONE year ago: Day 55-All is Well Again!