After posting yesterday, I decided to double check with Victoria to make sure she was ok with me using her real name in the post. So, when she came home from student teaching around 4pm on Friday, I asked her. She confirmed it was ok to use her name.
Sibling Rivalry
Naturally, she wanted to see the post and so she pulled up the site to look at it for the first time. As she looked at the site a conversation quickly ensued.
“Dottie gets her own picture on the front page! Where is my picture?” Victoria asked in outrage.
“You are not going to be traveling with us, so I didn’t think you would want to be in the blog. The blog is about traveling,” I replied in a calm neutral voice attempting to keep the lid on the conversation.
“I see how important I am to you! I can’t believe Dottie gets her own picture on the front page and I don’t get one”, Victoria grumbled.
“Do you want your picture in the website?”, I asked.
“Well, duh!”
“You get that Dottie is going to be the star of this website, right?”
She just looked at me and shrugged.
“Ok, I can fix this.”
The Surprise
The next thing Victoria tells me after the blog conversation is that we have plans at 7pm. Since I was taken aback, I asked a series of questions:
“What time should I be ready to leave?”
“6:40pm is good. We aren’t going far,” she replied.
“How fancy should I dress?”
“Oh, you can wear what you have on,” she replied a little bit uncertain.
“I will change into something more presentable. Goodness, these are my hang out clothes with a light coat of Dottie hair all over them.” (She does shed.)
She shrugged her shoulders.
“Should we eat before we go?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Retirement
This day I was officially retiring from my career after 28 years, 9 months and 18 days. So, the week had been one full of farewells, laughter and a few tears. I felt joy and excitement about the next chapter, but I also felt sadness over leaving my wonderful coworkers and entering retirement. It is such a major transition that represents one of the final chapters in life. So, I surmised we were going out to dinner to celebrate. Since we would be eating later, I grabbed some cheese and crackers as a snack and sat down to read for a while planning to change clothes around 6:15.
At 6pm there was a knock at the door. Since I had my back to it, Victoria hurried over to open it. I turned to see who was there, and before I could see anyone, I heard my sister and brother-in-law yell “Surprise!” Then the neighbors walked in next, and I learned that Victoria and my sister had organized a surprise pizza party to celebrate! Indeed, I was very surprised! What a great family I have!
Thank goodness, the house was clean although I did end up wearing my Dottie coated clothing for the party. We popped the cork on the prosecco my sister thoughtfully had brought, and began with a toast. It was a lovely warm, intimate and joy filled gathering.
Dottie’s fame and Victoria’s snub
Naturally, as with close intimates, we shared the conversation about Dottie’s front page fame and Victoria’s “missing” picture. As the drinks went down, this conversation came up several times over the course of the evening eliciting great laughter from everyone especially since the comments became more egregious with every telling. Dottie, being herself, laid on her dog bed in front of the fireplace looking quite smug about it all. Definitely the hallmark of a star!
Victoria presented me with two bottles of wonderful red wine and an annual national park pass as my retirement gift! I was deeply touched, tearing up when she told me. What a special and wonderful retirement day she made for me!
Thank you, Victoria, Pam, Paul, Jackie and John for making my day so special!
Just to make clear, I’m not ungrateful or rude as my mom is making me out to be in her blog….
Thanks for sharing your journey, Karen! So excited for this next chapter and what it will bring. Wishing you joy in the journey! Love, Sally!
Thanks, Sally for your wishes and support throughout my life! I am so blessed to have this opportunity and your friendship!
Loving your blog and so excited for you and to read about all your adventures!
Thanks, Tammy! Looks like I’m getting a weather window right after Victoria graduates!
Wishing you the best as you near the finish line!
We had a wonderful evening celebrating with you. Congratulations Karen!
I had a blast! It was such a wonderful surprise. Thanks! 🙂