AS SANDS THROUGH THE HOUR GLASS, so are the days of our lives...

This has been a week with some obvious indications of passing time!  On Wednesday I enjoyed another birthday!  Nothing spectacular happened.  I had been given a $25 gift certificate for Christmas by my afternoon employer.  So I still had that.  It was to Salvatores.  So Randy and I enjoyed a meal there.  I had something called Sophia's ziti.  Was pretty yummy.  Randy had an Italian beef sandwich with aux jus.

Then tonight I attended a retirement party for one of my friends from the City.  Kathy Chalupa's last day with the parks department was today.  She was a very versatile employee with multiple talents.  Not afraid to work hard.  When I walked into the party, I was immediately struck by how many people my life had been enriched with just by virtue of knowing Kathy.  The 'card club' girls -- such fun people, Geri, Cheryl, Chelsea and more. 

The stories were many, I'm sure.  I got in on a couple.  One co-worker gave a gift signed Edward ... her real name is Annie.  But she was a worker extraordinaire and Kathy dubbed her Edward Scissorhands - tied somehow to her shrub cutting abilities!  On the table of gifts was a little clear plastic tray.  You know the type.  You pick them up at the dollar store.  They look 'fancy', but aren't really.  At first glance it looked like some type of fixy little petit fours intricately displayed.  A closer look revealed Little Debbie Brownies, each cut into 8 pieces.  Placed in between the Little Debbie cubes were little cherry licorice pieces, about the same size.  Seventeen years ago one of the parks guys didn't bring a dessert to something he was supposed to.  He ran to the nearby convenience store and returned with a very similar looking 'dessert tray'.  A fun reminder!

I didn't take my gift yet.  It is a consumable gift.  I will make it and take it to her probably next week.  A casserole she enjoyed at our house ... Redi-Burger Casserole.  She really liked it.  It's sure to put some wind behind her sails as she heads into retirement!  She knows!  *wink*

Kathy -- I feel like you are a good friend.  I know everyone else in your world feels the same.  Best wishes to you as you march into new adventures!