Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is off to a great start, and your week is sliding into a fantastic end.
This is a special day for me. Today I will turn on my work computer for the last time. At the end of the day, it’ll be shut down, packed up, and shipped back to my employer. My desk will be rearranged to accommodate a single computer, a new keyboard, and dedicated space for a cocktail glass. Yes, I’m allowed. I asked my wife.
While I have no plans of sitting around all day, it will be a change waking up Monday morning to my own schedule. I intend to get up the same time I do now, no later than 5:30 AM. I’ve found over the years that my creativity peaks very early in the morning, and writing is something I plan to do. That, and walking. I can’t just sit around. I have to do something.
I once read that if you ask a woman to tell you about herself, she usually begins by telling you about her family. How long she’s been married, how many kids, how many grandchildren … you get the idea. Ask a man the same question and we’ll invariably start by telling you what we do for a living. That’s just how we’re wired. It’s how we identify with ourselves.
And when you take away that portion of our identity, we lose our sense of worth. It’s like, for the very first time in our adult lives, nobody has to rely on us for income. In fact, the money would go further with us out of the way. (I sure hope my wife isn’t reading this. She watches too many crime shows anyway. I’m not sure if it’s entertainment or apprenticeship training.)
I’ve been through some of these emotions during previous layoffs. “Oh, Dave, you were great! It’s just business. Now call your wife and tell her you’re unemployed.” Of course, back then I had to find a job as quickly as possible, and every day I didn’t, I became more and more discouraged. This time is different. My resume has seen its final edit.
Oh, I’ll continue to work. I don’t think there’s enough bourbon in the county to let me sit around the house all day. Besides, she prefers rum. My brother-in-law told her, “You’re getting twice the husband at half the pay!” Thanks for having my back, bro! Already she’s dreaming up projects to get me out of the house. So far, none have a thing to do with the pool.
But that can all wait until next week. Right now, I’m working through my final day on the job, and hoping to leave on a high note. My goal was always simple – pass on some of what I’ve learned over the years and leave the place a little better than I found it. To the extent I had any influence, I think I’ve succeeded at both.
So, with that, a very long and satisfying career comes to an end. It’s not the end, but a beginning. As I make my own place in my new world, I’m leaving behind a place for someone else to fill in the old. Okay, three or four someone elses. It’s my blog.
Finally, as this day begins, I’d be remiss in not thanking my wife for her support over the years. I stuck my neck out a lot and took some calculated risks others may have advised against, and she was there every step of the way. In fact, the only thing we’ve really disagreed about is today – retirement. I think it just reminds her she married an old man.
Anyway, that’s it for now. Have an awesome day and an even better weekend. And sometime this evening, let’s hoist a drink together in honor of my retirement. Any time zone works. As a wise old sailor once said, it’s five o-clock somewhere!
© 2026 Dave Glardon – All rights reserved
Dave Glardon 