I’m thinking this morning about how I retired.  When I was ending my last month or so  of Civil Service, I was asked did I want some sort of ceremony, audience with the CO or a dinner with the department.  Well, I said no to all because I am not a ceremonious sort, nor have I ever really met the CO.  If he were a friend of sorts or even worked closely with on a regular basis maybe, but no.  Dinner with the department?  I hardly knew two people in all of Security.  My office was apart of theirs.  I knew them in face and some, name only.  Why would I want to attend a dinner for me and I not know anyone?

All I asked for was a flag that had been flown over the command.  I was told I could not do that because I wasn’t military.  I’m thinking, well I was and I am a Veteran of the Vietnam Era, so why not?  I was refused and to this date I have nothing other than a boiler plate letter congratulating me for my 28 years of Civil Service.  That and a five month wait to see my first retirement check after having spent most all my savings to live until that happened.

Now I have bills that I was going to pay with that and I don’t have any of it.  Now I catch what I can running cars.  Now I’m taking a class to be certified to substitute teach hoping to make up the difference in what I owe and what I need to buy groceries.  Seems that is life, so I deal with it and go on.