More Goodbyes

by Pa Rock
Sentimental Old Fool

This is my last night at the Wheezin' Geezer. I will spend tomorrow night at the airport, the infamous Sky Harbor, waiting to board a plane at 5 a.m. that will take me the hell out of Arizona.

I said goodbye to my bank today. I bank at the National Bank of Arizona, Goodyear Branch, and I have really tried to like that bank and its employees, but that has proven very hard to do. Most of them do not seem to like their jobs, which makes it hard for me to like their bank. I plan to be much more careful in choosing my next banking facility.

I had dinner this evening with my friend and co-worker, Valerie Seitz, and her son, Andrew. Nice folks. Valerie is pursuing a job on Okinawa and really wants to have the opportunity to work there. Andrew, aged seventeen, is inquisitive about Japan and asked good questions. After dinner we walked to Barnes and Noble where I bought him a copy of James Clavell's Shogun, the classic historical novel of Japan. I hope that Valerie and Andrew make it to Okinawa.

I spoke to all of my children tonight and two of my grandsons. I am hopeful that I will be able to get all of them to Okinawa next year. I understand that the air base sponsors some really good tours to other parts of the Far East, so maybe we will be able to take a side trip while they are there. Early tomorrow morning I am sending my phone, which I can't use on Okinawa, to Tim. So if anyone needs to contact me after that it will have to be by email.

This evening I ordered six large pizzas to take to work for lunch tomorrow. I usually try to treat the staff to lunch whenever I leave a job. Although I have grown to detest the heat, stupidity, and blatant bigotry of Arizona, the staff at Luke has been awesome, and I will truly miss all of those guys!

There is still lots of packing to do!