** This thread discusses the Content article: Belated Retirement Party **

When air traffic controllers retire typically there is a dinner held in their honor, where gifts and cards are given and everyone can say their goodbyes. Not me. When I retired
it was so abrupt that I got none of that, and truth be told, I was
bummed about it. I needed to mark the end of my career with something
more than handing in my badge and parking pass. Fortunately, my
girlfriends came to my rescue.

Three months after my retirement the ladies from work arranged to take
me out to dinner so that we could catch up before I left town. Since
many of them were not at work on my last day and I hadn't gotten the
chance to say goodbye I was really looking forward to it.

In the world of air traffic control, everything is very matter of
fact and precise - you can't let your feelings get in the way of the
job. The Ladies' Lounge where I worked, however, had become a place of
respite. The women supported each other there, listened to each other
blow off steam, and laughed together. There were many days that the
counsel I received in that room was all that got me through. I grew to
love those women and relate to them on a very special level. They know
me. When I was told that my retirement processing had been completed I
was given 2 days to tie up loose ends and leave. No time for a party.
No chance to pass around a big card to sign. No closure. I had a
really hard time with it. So when I arrived at dinner I was tickled to
find a table full of my closest friends (which is very difficult to
arrange with people who work shift work). We ate yummy food and
chatted about the trip and the latest news. Just like old times.
Then, to my surprise, they started breaking out gifts. First, a
beautiful gold necklace with an airplane charm. I've never seen
anything like it. It's a perfect reminder of my career (so perfect, in
fact, that they've all decided that's what they want when they
retire!) Then came the silver frame engraved with an airplane and LOL,
for Ladies of the Lounge. We took a picture that night to fill the
frame so the girls can travel with me. But that wasn't all. There was
a card from all of the ladies and a card from the area that I worked in
when I left (hey TMU - no ground delay programs for RVs!) Totally
unexpected was the giant retirement card, filled with well-wishes from
the entire facility. It was decorated with a big caricature of me
standing in front of our RV with my dog at my feet (an original cartoon
by our resident controller/artist "Gator" So funny! To go with the
giant card they gave me a Visa gift card, which they said I could
either tell Dan about or just hide in my purse Finally, closure.

Thanks girls, and thank you to everyone that I worked with for so
many years. You are a wonderful, generous bunch of control freaks and
I miss you! I may be non-radar for more than a year, but I won't be
NORDO. Keep in touch!
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