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borgmama1of5So at 1:24 pm today I walked out of work never to return--officially retired!!!
I've been the Caregiver Manager at a home care agency in Chicago for 12 1/2 years (I started in September 2009, the same month I started watching Supernatural as it aired live for season 5.)
For the first 11 years I loved my job and the people I worked with. Then in March 2021 my boss sold the company to a couple of investors and everything went downhill, with making money taking priority over taking care of seniors. Fortunately I already had my retirement date in mind so I toughed it out and did my best to keep my caregivers from getting screwed over.
Last Thursday the office surprised me by arranging for an open house farewell party where my caregivers could stop by anytime to have pizza and say goodbye to me. It meant a lot to me how many of my team came by, most of them having worked for me for 5 or more years, some of them bringing little gifts, and all of them saying they will miss how I treated them and that they can't imagine the place without me. It made me realize I'd made a difference to a lot of people.
I didn't expect to tear up when I said my final goodbyes, given how unpleasant the last year has been, but I did...
But it passed quickly because Saturday and Sunday I am attending the Chicago Supernatural convention (with the tickets for Jared and Jensen photo ops forwarded from 2020) and then on Tuesday I am flying to Heidelberg, Germany to spend 3 weeks with my middle daughter Erica and her family--I can't wait to see my granddaughters, 10-year-old Emma and 4-year-old Matilda. And the best part is I am staying for 3 whole weeks--every other time I've visited over the last 10 years I could only stay 5 or 6 days because I had to get back to work!
Then when I get back home July 1 I start packing because I am moving to live with my youngest daughter Adrienne, her husband Todd, and 16-month-old Hazel, to be a full-time grandma! I can't wait! The original plan was to move to Bellingham, Washington, where they live now, but Todd, who is a professional chef is actually checking out a job offer in Winston-Salem, NC, so now I'm not exactly sure where I'll end up, but I'll be with family so that's what counts. And I know I'll be visiting my oldest daughter Sarah and her family as well.
I won't be moving until the end of September, so one of the things I'm going to do before I move is a total rewatch of all 15 seasons of Supernatural. I figure if I watch 10 episodes a day it will take just over a month :D
I've been the Caregiver Manager at a home care agency in Chicago for 12 1/2 years (I started in September 2009, the same month I started watching Supernatural as it aired live for season 5.)
For the first 11 years I loved my job and the people I worked with. Then in March 2021 my boss sold the company to a couple of investors and everything went downhill, with making money taking priority over taking care of seniors. Fortunately I already had my retirement date in mind so I toughed it out and did my best to keep my caregivers from getting screwed over.
Last Thursday the office surprised me by arranging for an open house farewell party where my caregivers could stop by anytime to have pizza and say goodbye to me. It meant a lot to me how many of my team came by, most of them having worked for me for 5 or more years, some of them bringing little gifts, and all of them saying they will miss how I treated them and that they can't imagine the place without me. It made me realize I'd made a difference to a lot of people.
I didn't expect to tear up when I said my final goodbyes, given how unpleasant the last year has been, but I did...
But it passed quickly because Saturday and Sunday I am attending the Chicago Supernatural convention (with the tickets for Jared and Jensen photo ops forwarded from 2020) and then on Tuesday I am flying to Heidelberg, Germany to spend 3 weeks with my middle daughter Erica and her family--I can't wait to see my granddaughters, 10-year-old Emma and 4-year-old Matilda. And the best part is I am staying for 3 whole weeks--every other time I've visited over the last 10 years I could only stay 5 or 6 days because I had to get back to work!
Then when I get back home July 1 I start packing because I am moving to live with my youngest daughter Adrienne, her husband Todd, and 16-month-old Hazel, to be a full-time grandma! I can't wait! The original plan was to move to Bellingham, Washington, where they live now, but Todd, who is a professional chef is actually checking out a job offer in Winston-Salem, NC, so now I'm not exactly sure where I'll end up, but I'll be with family so that's what counts. And I know I'll be visiting my oldest daughter Sarah and her family as well.
I won't be moving until the end of September, so one of the things I'm going to do before I move is a total rewatch of all 15 seasons of Supernatural. I figure if I watch 10 episodes a day it will take just over a month :D
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Date: 2022-06-04 09:52 pm (UTC)And though we are not in the same area, thank you for all you did in that industry! It's not an easy job, and it sounds like it got even more difficult toward the end. It's very important. I keep reminding myself of it when I face a ... challenging client.
Sounds like you've got a lovely plan with which to start your retirement life.
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Date: 2022-06-06 12:36 pm (UTC)Retirement got off to a great start with hugs from Jared and Jensen at the con :)
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Date: 2022-06-07 08:12 am (UTC)Ugh...I hate it when 'private companies' buy nursing homes, hospitals...hell, NEWSPAPERS - because money is the key for them and the care and the integrity and compassion...are not, ugh. I am happy you could make a difference - but glad you are now away from such a soul-sucking environment. And with such happy plans in the works!
Blessings to you, honey. And enjoy! You have more than earned it!
*HUGS*
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Date: 2022-06-07 01:54 pm (UTC)I found a great deal of satisfaction during my farewell party when my caregivers kept saying how much I made a difference for them...and I have to say I will worry about how they will be treated now...but it's time for me to move on.
Adventures, here I come!