Sarah thanked me three times Sunday morning. All I had done was help make brunch…breakfast burritos. But I suspect those thank-yous were about more than breakfast.
We were going to be leaving shortly thereafter to go to Sarah’s retirement party. I could tell she was nervous about it. She has been done seeing patients now since the first part of October. This celebration party was her final stage…the closure of her career.
For years, Sarah and I were accustomed to being the ones taking care of everybody else. We were both Family Physicians. We raised our children. We managed demanding schedules. We supported each other through difficult days. Now, in retirement, we are discovering another way of taking care of each other. And sometimes it means something as ordinary as helping make brunch when your wife is nervous about a big day. Love doesn’t always announce itself through grand gestures. Sometimes it looks like breakfast. She got to celebrate Sunday with Dr. Larson and Dr. Crismon, as they all retired on the same day.
Saturday was also a great day…my 62nd Birthday. The kids/grandkids were all coming home for Sarah’s retirement, but I got to have them all home for my birthday too! We went out to eat to celebrate both my birthday, and her retirement, Saturday night.
There were lots of laughs, pictures taken, memories made with everybody home…almost everybody. Dan was getting the last of his crop in. He really wanted to be there, but when you are a farmer, you do what you have to, when you are able to, and when the weather cooperates. That is just how it is. Sarah and I both had times when we missed events because of being on call. We get it. He was in our thoughts. We kept asking how things were going this last week. The rain held out for him, and he got the crop in! We will celebrate again when he is able to be there too! The grandkids easily stole the show for the weekend!
After the retirement party was done, and we were leaving, I asked Sarah what she thought of the day. She said it was “good”! She was “relieved”. I think this closed a chapter for her…
Sarah said it was a good day.
She was relieved when it was over.
I think I understand.
For more than 3 decades, medicine was such a big part of our lives. We wouldn’t trade those years for anything. But every chapter eventually comes to an end.
This weekend, surrounded by family and friends, we celebrated the closing of that chapter.
And as I looked around at our children, our grandchildren, and Sarah, I couldn’t help but think about how fortunate we are.
We have so much to look back on.
And hopefully, so much more to look forward to.
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of Newest Streak: # 971