25 January 2013

And Then There Was One.

It's my birthday.
I am 66 years of age today, and eligible for full Social Security benefits.
Coincidentally, tonight happens to be my last night at a job I have been doing for over 26 years.
I have always loved this job because I feel God has used my talents to help others.
I love the flying.
I love the professionals I work with.
But the entire medicine-related industry is changing, and I fear it will change dramatically over the next months. And on the "pluses and minuses scale", those changes are making the job less and less satisfying.

And then there is that undeniable "66 years old" detail, (and the 45 years of being subjected to a VERY noisy environment thing)...
Two years ago I got tired of not being able to read tower frequencies off my charts at night and succumbed to wearing glasses all the time.
I drive my fellow employees nuts with the volume on the aircraft's radios and the community TV because I'm more and more deaf.
So it's time to hang it up.

I have LOVED THIS JOB so, and walking out the door Saturday morning will be one of the hardest things I've ever done. But I want to leave while my med-crews are sad to see me go.
It's time.
Turn the page.


20 comments:

On a Wing and a Whim said...

Happy Birthday!

Whatever comes next, I hope it's as fun and interesting.

(And if you ever decide to give light sport or ultralight a try, seized-wing is less noisy and not so dependent on radios as rotor-wing.)

Jeff said...

Congrats on a career well done! I have not flown myself in about a year. I do miss it. My eyes seem to be going as well. Here's to a great retirement!!

Scotty said...

Happy Birthday and happy retirement!

You're going enjoy retirement as I have once I realized I don't have to do ANYTHING if I don't want to!!

If you mention that statement to my wife, I'll hunt you down!

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Highest hopes for your future.

Capt. Schmoe said...

Best to Ya Greybeard, congrats!

eiaftinfo said...

Thank you . . . for your time and skill on the battlefield and for your time as an air ambulance driver. You have truly made a difference - saved lives, given more "tomorrows", brought husbands and wives back home . . . .

Congrats on a career well lived . . . . now go have some fun. Somehow I suspect motocycles will come into play. :)

If you ever take a run through Iowa there's a bed, a beer and a meal for you any time . . .

Bill

Unknown said...

My friend, best wishes and have a great retirement! From our years in RVN,the years in the reserves, and our decades of EMS, the flying has been terrific. Of course, I am envious as we anxiously await my own retirement.

Best Regards, James Michael P. AE 80

lotta joy said...

ALWAYS LEAVE WHILE THEY STILL WANT YOU TO STAY.

Cuz once that door closes, you can't get back in. You're going to go through SO MUCH sadness for a long time. THEN you'll notice that you no longer yearn to get up early.

lotta joy said...

I FORGOT!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Old NFO said...

Happy Birthday sir, and thank you for a job well done! And you ARE doing the right thing, at the right time. Best wishes in your next career!!! :-D

Ed Bonderenka said...

Happy Birthday GB.
It's the birthday of the next stage in your life.
May God help you enjoy it.

Joe said...

late with my best wishes for the happiest of days and relaxing, enjoyable retirement. You have earned it.

Joe said...

late with my best wishes for the happiest of days and relaxing, enjoyable retirement. You have earned it.

The Old Man said...

Welcome to my world, amigo. Pulled the pin on 28Dec.
I'm sure Sara Jean will have as much to say about your proposed time management as the Bosslady has to say about mine... In our case, a new-to-us pup is filling in the blank spaces.
Enjoy. We'll talk when the weather gets better...

Timothy Frazier said...

More time for riding and writing, my friend.

I can't imagine how tough it must be to give up all that flying. When I retire I'll be walking away from bits and bytes, IP addresses and security patches. Won't miss it.

You're blessed in having had a job worthy of missing.

Happy birthday!

k said...

Happy birthday, and congratulations on a long and illustrious career! :) All the best wishes to you, and may you enjoy your own schedule to the max!

I was delighted to see your comment on my blog the other day -- when I put being a pilot on the back burner to focus on being a mom, I lost tabs on a lot of inspirational blogs out here, and yours is one. On the plus side, now that son #1 is in kindergarten and son #2 is almost three years old (!!!), I'm hoping to take some refresher lessons and get back up there! Time to freshen the reader feeds...

Take care!

YYC Dispatcher said...

Happy belated birthday, and congratulations on the retirement!

YYC (Aviation) Dispatcher

Terry said...

Late as always, Happy Birthday

As I slow down myself, knowing I can not do what I use to, knowing that I have to make changes, scares me. I will miss the things I have worked so hard to prepare for.
But at least their is a beer and a chair next to the long concrete runway. And a friend named Greybeard.

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

I would say "happy retirement" but I'm facing the same thing as a cop, at 62, and I'm not sure I'm there yet mentally. Plus, for budgetary reasons, I may not be able to. That's 41 years in law enforcement. Been everywhere, then went back to pushing a squad car around in Patrol as a Sergeant.

I know, quite well, your trepidation.

The unknown can be unhinging.

BZ

Don F said...

Happy birthday!

Fair winds...

Don F