Mom is doing really well. She started physical therapy today, it’s been a week since her replacement. She is still having trouble with things like lifting the leg off the bed and things like that. She will be able to do that, it will just come with time.
I heard from the Retirement Board yesterday that I have been approved for a disability retirement. I am officially retired as of Wednesday the 1st of August. I have 2 Personal Leave days to take so I will take them on Monday and Tuesday, I also have some comp. time I’ll take Friday afternoon, so as of
I leave the Fire Department with a lot of regret and sadness, however I’ve been very fortunate to have had a job that I love and been able to help hundreds of people. Not everyone can say that they have a job they love, love to get up in the morning and go to work. My Dad had a job that he nearly had to hold a gun to his head every morning as he hated to go to work everyday.
I have been asked many times what I’m going to do when I retire. My reply has been not go back to work. “Oh but you’ll be so bored!” I have lots of hobbies and other interests, so I won’t be bored! I figure I’ll be just as busy as ever.
Daniel is still working for Wild River Country. (that’s a local water park in North Little Rock) I’m not sure if he enjoys the money or the girls more! He goes there on his days off occasionally with his harem! LOL He has a number of “friend girls” and they all get together to do things. He really enjoys it. I know that he treats them all so nicely as well. And I have to admit that all his friends seem to be good kids. School starts back for Daniel August 20th,
We hear from our Army son on a regular basis. He’s into week 3 of basic training and having a ball! He’s been through the gas chamber. The following is part of the letter he sent us last week.
“Thursday was the gas chamber. They only let 15 enter at a time, so it took awhile to get everyone through. They made everyone line up in formation on one side of the chamber and made each rank file in. Every time the door opened to let people in or out, the gas would wash over us and we would start coughing and stuff. When it was my turn, we filed into the chamber where they made us say the general orders and the soldier’s creed with the mask on. Half way through the 3rd general order, my skin felt like it was blistering or falling off or something that is really hard to explain. Then they made us do jumping jacks. Then they told us to hold our breath, close our eyes & break the seal on our masks just enough so the Drill Sgt’s could see our noses. After that, we were told to reseal & clear our masks. I got it resealed but not cleared before I took my first breath, so I started coughing like crazy. The girl next to me was crying. Then we took off our masks entirely. We said the General Orders and soldiers creed with the masks off. That was hard. It feels like you’re not getting any air into your lungs at all. All at the same time your lungs burn, your eyes and your skin burns. I’ve been sick for a couple of weeks now, but got most of that crap up out of my throat in 5 minutes. When you come out I had snot everywhere, my eyes were red, it hurt so bad. It was all good & in 5 minutes was laughing at the next group coming out.”
I have to admit that I’m not alarmed or upset about his experience; I am worried that he’s been sick and I can’t do anything to help him!!! I think I should be allowed to go up there and tend to my sick baby!!! LOL Chief McCall keeps saying to me, “No Mom you can’t go to basic with him” I just don’t see why not!
Thursday 26 July 2007
Well, the fat lady has sung!!! I have turned in my SIGNED papers to the retirement board. I can't tell you what a wonderful feeling that is. I woke up this morning and felt like a HUGE weight has been lifted off me. I feel so relieved that it all went smoothly. The way my luck runs I just knew that something would happen and I wouldn't be approved and then have the big, "what now" facing me. In fact the relief is so great I feel like crying.
For those that feel like I have dumped you as friends or feel like I've ignored you I am sorry. I can't describe how I've felt these last 6 months. (In some cases the last 1 1/2 years) I've known from the beginning of January that something went wrong with my knee surgery and I knew deep down in my gut that my career was coming to an end (I actually had an inkling since I had the original injury). I've had allot of depression over it not to mention the chronic pain. I have several friends who have chronic pain and have had for years and I simply with-drew because I just couldn't deal with everything and try not to complain around them because I felt guilty complaining. It's hard to explain. I miss my friends and I have started to reach out to them again. I hope that they accept my apology and hopefully understand a bit. I made allot of phone calls yesterday with my hat in my hand and talked with those that I've with drawn from, most were understanding. I have several more to make, and I'll be making those in the next few days.
On to happier things. Tomorrow will be a really tough day at work. I go in at 8 am and take a 1 hour lunch at 11:30, at 12:30 I take 4 hours of comp. time. Monday and Tuesday I have personal leave days. So tomorrow at 11:30 I will be done working at the North Little Rock Fire Department.
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