This is a guest post from your first born (or your second-born, depending on those switcheroos in the mid-seventies).
I wanted to share a couple of my aforementioned toasts to my mom and dad with the vast community that is this blogosphere, but without having to go through the rigamarole of overcoming my fear of public speaking. So please read this with a literal or figurative glass in the air:
Dad's Retirment
Once upon a time, a long-haired beauty name ... Jimmy (with two m's) ... got a job, then another, and another, and another, and another - a life path which ultimately turned into an illustrious career in - altogether now - PLANNING. But the best planning of all allowed him and his bride to retire in middle age. So a toast to planning, and to living happily ever after.
Mom's Retirment
On this ocassion of Mom's retirement from teaching, I think it is important to recognize that, first and foremost, Mom is a teacher to all of us, and that is a role from which she can never retire. Her lesson plans for me - all of us - have been comprehensive and thorough. She has taught us to make the best damn beer meatballs and lasagna ever, how to belt out a song with abandon, and how to truly appreciate and look forward to a good nap. She has taught us the fundamentals of life - how to read, that we need to change our underwear everday (though it took Sara a little longer to learn that one). And she taught us the fundamentals of a wonderful life - how to love people (though admittedly, it took me a litle longer to learn that one), how to take care of those loved ones, and how to give back to the world by taking care of strangers. But for me, personally, the lesson that resonates most is how to march to the beat of your own drummer. We all know Mom to be the maverick of the Ocif clan, and I know that seeing that growing up - and even now - is why I am 100% comfortable being 100% me, no matter what conventions I defy or norms I follow. (Dad, I will pause here so that you can make a joke about following a guy named Norm.) ... So, without further ado, let's toast to Mom's retirement from the kind of teaching that earned her so many payckecks, and to all of the lessons she has taught us - free of charge.
Thanks to my guest blogger; one of my precious pearls.
ReplyDeleteThere are two basic guidelines to production planning: produce on schedule, and don't over produce.
With twins, and three children within 18 months, we have, (mavericks that we are) ignored those guidelines.
So, I propose a toast to lack of planning; sometimes things just work out for the best.
I suggest it is often better to be lucky than smart,but........
you make your own luck by the life you live; the lives you touch.
I must say that, although I don't drink, I will raise my glass of ginger ale and celebrate the early retirement of the most amazing people that I know. The grace in which you both live your life is something that everyone should follow; may you both continue to touch the lives of others in your gentle, loving ways; you have certainly touch mine and for that I am very very grateful.
ReplyDeleteLove, Mema
Thank you, Amy, for those wonderful words about your father and I. I would have to say that the most appreciated praise one can receive is that which comes from your children because you guys have seen all sides of us - the good, the bad and the ugly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the celebratory dinner. It will always be one more memory to cherish.
Love,
Mom