Saying Goodbye

Twelve years ago Connie and I moved back to Tulsa after living away for 17 years. We had wanted to come home for some time, but one thing or another had always kept us away.

For about 6 months after our return I would catch myself smiling at everyday things I saw as I drove around town, enjoying the fact that I was back home, really home, and not just for vacation or such. It eventually wore off, of course, but I remember what a special feeling it was saying hello again.

I'm telling you this story because I caught myself doing it again the other day, but for exactly the opposite reason. No, this time I'm looking at everything as if I may never see it again because I may not. I'm trying to enjoy the sights and sounds and taste of Tulsa. I'm enjoying my hometown almost as a visitor might, maybe as a child might see it for the first time. To be honest, it is a special feeling, one that I hope will ease my feeling of loss when I can't see it anymore.

5 more days...

Countdown.

Only three more Monday mornings left in my professional career...

Second Guessing

It's been awhile since I posted last, I know, but we're in the organizing and packing stage and its pretty boring, to be honest. Recent developments have picked the pace up.

It's official. I turned in my letter of resignation. Or is it called a letter of retirement? I honestly don't know. I've never been in this position before. Whatever you call it, it's a major step of commitment. As Connie says, we're now flying without a net. But I know how long we've been planning this and I have a lot of confidence in what we're doing.

We found out that you have to get a Guatemalan drivers license within 6 months of arriving. Sounds like no big deal, right? Except that it's only printed in spanish and I don't know spanish yet! Good motivation, I guess. I think motivation is the guy in the shop smiling at me and I don't know if I'm getting ripped off or not. A cop asking you questions and all I know is that I don't want to go to a Guatemalan jail. You know, important stuff.

Anyway, I never, ever thought I would be second guessing myself about retiring. Most people would be delighted to trade their job for a Latin American bar and a cold Corona in the afternoon. But I never thought I would have a job like the one I've had for the last 11 1/2 years. You probably would think working at a public aquarium is cool. And you definitely would be right. But the people have been so incredible, my boss has been the best. Your ideas are valued there. You wouldn't believe how often we've had to actually create something out of nothing because what we wanted to do had never been done before. And we pulled it off EVERY TIME!! It will be hard to walk out the door the last time.

In 30 days...