....she'll be smiling like this.
Today is her last day of full-time work (she'll still work every other friday/monday - giving her ten day stretches off). She's been counting down the months for about five years.
She's worked as long as I can remember. When we lived in Laurium, we owned a hardware store - that required many hours from both of my parents. We had a full time babysitter during those years.
When we moved to Northville in 1982, she worked somewhere. I don't remember where, but I remember coming home from school and her giving me directions on how to put dinner going before she went to work. I remember lots of meatloaf.
The next year we moved to Walled Lake, and I remember there being extra kids roaming around the house as she did daycare.
When we moved to Milford, she worked at Huron Valley Hospital - which came in handy that night I had to drive myself to emergency. She worked the registration desk at emergency. No hanging around the waiting room for me.
She also worked at the nursing home in Milford, on the corner of Commerce and Hickory Ridge. I remember stopping in there quite a bit - must have been my broke, can you lend me a few dollars years.
I can't remember which came first - the nursing home or the hospital.
When my mom and siblings moved back up north, she worked at Michigan Tech for quite a few years, but was never fond of the Calumet to Houghton drive in the winter.
She was thankful when she got her current job at Keweenaw Home Nursing - much closer to home. She was with them when they moved from their location in Laurium over to their current place in Calumet.
It's going to be one happy potluck party tonight!
Congratulations Mom!
Love you!
Thanks for the warm wishes and the memories! Love you!
Posted by: Mom | November 07, 2011 at 07:19 AM
Congratulations, Carol! What a wonderful feeling that must be. :) Enjoy every second!
~ Jennifer
Posted by: ~ Junkyard Jennifer | November 07, 2011 at 11:23 AM
I'm teary. Love the "ode to mother" words, and also returned to the "in these pews"....Oh, my heart. Keep writing.
Posted by: Barb | November 07, 2011 at 12:36 PM
So Happy for you Carol! Enjoy!
Posted by: Sherry | November 07, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Ahhh, congrats, Carol ~ this day has been a long time coming. Sew very happy for you!
Posted by: Ann | November 07, 2011 at 05:52 PM