A series of essays.....
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| THE INFAMOUS GIN AND TONIC LOCATED SUSPICIOUSLY CLOSE TO THE COFFEE! |
.....as seen through my eyes!
🎄
By: Jacqueline E. Hughes
The ‘good stuff’ was flowing....all evening long. A frosty glass tumbler consisting of ice, and equal portions of Tanqueray and tonic cooled my hand through its white cocktail napkin shawl. Best gin and tonic in town I thought, watching the juice and pulp from the manually squeezed citrus wedge intermingle with the tonic, the gin, and ice beneath its sinking, lime-green canoe. Free drinks always taste so good!
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| OUR HOSTS, ROGER B KENNEDY AND HIS WIFE, LEIGH |
Greeting us personally, only moments beforehand, our host wished us a delightful evening before handing us name tags the size of mini-billboards that were to be clipped to our apparel. Thoughts of, “Should I clip it to one earlobe, or turn it sideways attached to a sleeve?” went through my mind before finding an acceptable spot.
Having arrived fashionably late, more in terms of the punk rock band than by following any outdated social norm (discretion artfully employed), the other participants at this gig were already far beyond the ‘first gin and tonic’ stage. Remember, nothing but the very best flowing freely tonight!
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| TWO KIDS CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS ~ 2017 |
Slithering our way through the masses towards the quintessential watering hole, and being reintroduced to people I had met for the first time last December, I was now being introduced to new employees and their spouses. While shaking outstretched hands and employing ‘barely there’ hugs, the thought of these being “once in a lifetime” greetings passed before me like the wisp of a ghostly shadow between each smile and jovial introduction.
Later in the evening, right before we were saying our good-byes to our host with sincere appreciation for the good food, drink, and hospitality, Ed was standing in the foyer. Newly married for one month, I’d met Ed and his charming girlfriend at the Christmas party last year. Recalling conversations about past travels and hopeful future travels, we hit-it-off as smoothly as freshly Zambonied ice between hockey periods.
Born in South Africa thirty-something years ago, his family moved to the States where he, eventually, attended Northwestern University and somehow became a young Project Manager for ‘The Man’ here in Orlando. The sadness in his eyes frightened me. Why would this intelligent, young man be sad? And then he asked, “How many grandchildren do you and Dan have up in Michigan?” “Five,” was my reply. “How old are they?” Upon telling him, he stared at me and said, “Then five very solid reasons for retiring and heading to Michigan. As much as I will miss Dan, I know he’s doing what he needs to do.”
All through dinner, served with Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon at each table, and an open bar right up until the stroke of midnight, Dan was being cajoled into adding a year or more to his employment status by his co-workers who insisted he should not leave; he was too young and productive yet to retire. Dan has some ingrained personality trait embedded deep within him that usually endears him to most everyone he works with and for. I call it his ‘super care' trait. Quite often, he cares so much about others, he loses a small piece of himself in the process.
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| RICH, DAN'S BOSS, JUST BEING RICH! |
After forty-seven years in the business, working in multiple states for various companies, and enjoying the camaraderie offered by office staff, sub-contractors, and his wide assortment of superintendents alike.....bidding adieu to the physicality of his job is going to be difficult. The mental process of it is what has helped him retain quick thinking and structure which has served him well throughout the years. Kept him young and on his toes. Brightened his mornings when things were going exceptionally well.
Given a problem to solve and walking himself through each twist and turn towards its inevitable solution has been his forte. He’s always been so good at it. Good enough to earn the nickname “Golden Boy” more often than I can remember. I always liked his “Golden Boy” image as it conjured up accolades and personal pride and possible rewards. As children with parents and parents with children...we know the benefits of offering appreciation and rewards for jobs well done. Productivity and self esteem levels rise and this can have such a positive effect on everyone around you.
Short-timer walking...
Last Christmas we weren’t absolutely sure about the longevity of his continuance as Project Manager with this particular company due to retirement and we glided through the evening like a stalwart ship sailing upon friendly, blue waters back then. We could afford to enjoy those ‘barely there’ hugs and dance our way into oblivion....at least, until the bewitching hour. I could tell it was different for him this year. There was sadness behind his blues eyes; a speeding sense of closure after a lifetime of career and genuine accomplishment.
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| DAN WITH SHELDON, ANOTHER 'SHORT-TIMER' |
Forty-seven years of waking up each weekday morning like clockwork, so ingrained within his psyche that after a while an alarm clock is no longer required. Does that feeling ever go away? Should we even want it to?
He recently began his final building project and has written-up several of the contracts with subcontractors who will be working on his job located in Clermont, Florida. Up until the other day, he had been working on three large multi-family apartment complexes for three different owners and turned one over with a certificate of occupancy last Friday. He’s now down to two with this second to be completed early next year. Soon, the completion of the Clermont job will mark his retirement. Devoting one’s life to anything is a lifetime achievement and to watch the ‘end of an era’ finally approach can be a daunting experience.
Short-timer walking...
Sitting here writing about my husband’s impending retirement plans with mixed feelings of my own, I can’t help but think back to an emotionally charged Christmas party in Heathrow, Florida last Saturday evening. With its fun, laughter, and thought provoking insights affecting our future, I see our friend Ed’s face staring back at me. His youth and determined ambition reminds me of a younger Dan with the world his oyster and so many stories and accomplishments to look forward to. And it strikes me how refreshing and instinctual his questions were, especially after not seeing us for such a long while...
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| CLINT AND DAN, BOTH PROJECT MANAGERS FOR KENNEDY CONSTRUCTION |
“How many grandchildren do you have up in Michigan? How old are they now? As much as I will miss Dan, I know he is doing what he needs to do.”
Dan may be close to being a ‘short-timer.' however, he knows that he is walking in the right direction, albeit a few years earlier than even he expected. Oh, how his eyes light-up when we mention their names! How both our hearts sing at the thought of being so close to the five little people who bring us such infinite amounts of Joy!
What a wild and wacky, chronically busy, and absolutely wonderful year 2018 promises to be!
Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
