What now?

Mr. Chernysh
Mr. Frey

( L->R) Joe ,Helen (wife), Patrick (son)

& Lisa (daughter)

(L->R) Kevin (son), Maureen (wife), Gord,

& Rachael (daughter)

I think these two handsome fellows were sent off in fine style last evening with, between the two of them, over 70 years of experience going with them. They had their wives by their sides and most of their children and it was a grand celebration.

And how do you wrap up 70 years of experiences in a few hours. You can't.

I thought it similar to a funeral. We try to express the essence of a person in one short service but it really can't be done.

What we leave behind in either our lives when we die, or when we leave a long career is not simply a desk for the next guy to fill. Oh, no. That part of it doesn't even get into the equation.

We leave behind our work ethics, our morals, our compassion and our mannerisms....all of those things that have an effect on those we work with. So, if we're crabby and complain all the time, spiteful, lack morals, only do what is required of us and not willing to go the extra mile, well, that is how we shall be remembered and those are the negative things that made others a bit like you.

I spoke with a fellow in the office this morning about how he heard a lot about one of the retirees at the celebration which he hadn't known before. It made him feel a bit uncomfortable that he hadn't known this person very well, while he was working. He wished that he had.

We don't get second chances to live life over. I see people every day living miserable existances because they choose not to involve themselves in any way with other people. How very sad.......because in the end, it will be ALL about other people, how we cared about them, how we showed compassion and loved them and took time to be with them and to get to know their hearts and what made them the way they were. It won't be about the position they left!

Because, as I'm slowly finding out, life is not about ME.....it's all about others.