Have just returned from my esteemed colleague's retiral dinner. A fun event that revealed how Bill used to be known as the Exorcist: any time he visited a home, you could be sure that it was spirit free when he left it ( especially the single malt varieties).
It was a poignant occasion, filled with laughter but charged with other emotions too. What other profession demands that after giving one's life to a community, one has to leave that community and the network of friends who have become like family and start again, in retirement, to build up a social network?
In the 29 years that Bill has served our neighbouring community, this community has gone through 6 ministers. What is that about? The hour is late to go down that line of enquiry. But I want to salute Bill, wish him well in retirement and give thanks that he won't be too far away to still be available to lend an ear and the voice of wisdom and, the proper gentleman that he is, to buy lunch!
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