The day finally came!
After 40 years of civilian service for the US Air Force, my dad retired last week! His colleagues put together a lovely ceremony to celebrate my dad and I loved hearing some of the stories and highlights from his time there although I'm sure there are few things that could EVER top riding in and flying (even if only for a moment) an F-16. Two highlights for me: a coworker made a flag box with cherry wood to hold a flag just for him that had been flown over the Capitol in D.C. and they gave a special award of recognition to my mom as well for her support of him in his career. Did I cry both moments? Of course.
My appreciation for my dad and his career has only grown ever since my husband joined the Air Force as well. Civilians in the AF make things happen and get stuff done. They were some of the people that were the most helpful and supportive to me whenever I had a question or when I was on my own when Ian was deployed.
It's also hard to not get teary thinking about how his career has spanned longer than my own life--his hard work helped my family get into a house just a few months after I was born, provided for me while I was growing up, and helped me eventually leave home for college and start my own family.
So excited for his next chapter and I'm hoping it's full of jazz music, beekeeping, and many, many naps.
