just say something perfect, something i can steal

A lady at my work is retiring.  Her retirement party was today.  We had some punch -  though she was never one for sour things.  Then we had some cake, and she always shared my dislike for cake.  A cookie, we would eat, but a cake felt empty to us.  Lots of people were there, even the CEO - she had been working there for thirty two years, after all.

Her name is Annie, and she always had this jar out on her desk, with these hard candies.  They came in alot of bright colors, but you learned after awhile that they all tasted the same - sweet as can be.  She said she put them out for us, but we didn’t like them much.  I think she put them out for herself.  (I’d always find wrappers on her desk.)  Good ol’ Annie had a sweet tooth if nothing else.

She liked her salty too, every bone in her body was southern, after all.  She knew how to cook a few things here and there, but she always marinaded her steak with wine.  She loved salads too, always trying to lose a few pounds, but enjoying the lettuce inspite of it.  She always ordered a chicken salad when we went to lunch - but never caeser dressing.  Honey mustard.  Always.  I forgot the honey mustard once.  She made me go back and get it.

Annie is a nice lady, with a short temper, and a small tolerance for gossip.  Leave her out of it and keep your word, if you wanted some peace from her, she always said.  She never had any kids, and never married anyone - but after she retires she’ll be moving up to Timpson, Texas.  Three bedroom, two bath. A full house, but empty as can be.  She’s content though. Lord knows what she’ll do with all those bedrooms, but I’m sure at least one will be her sowing room.  She loves to sow quilts.  I asked her to sow me one once, and she said no, with a little laugh.

We became friends that day.

Today at her party, she told everyone, “I asked Eddie why he goes to every retirement party the company throws.  He told me secretly, he said, ‘I been workin’ here for awhile now and I know everybody!  Sometimes I go, because they’re good people, and i’m sad to see them go.  Other times, it’s because I’m glad they’re goin’!’ “

She looked at the crowd dead in the eye, and said, with a smile on her face, “None of y’all better tell me why y’all are here.”