Cynthia's retirement party

Cynthia’s retirement party proved what I had suspected all along. She was one of the most well-respected and thought of IRS agents, at least in Tyler and Longview . Her retirement party was well attended by her former co-workers -- some from as far away as Lufkin and Forney, both between 90 and 100 miles from Tyler , and her daughter Tammi, who drove here from San Antonio . The money tree given at each retiree’s party that I have gone the last several years was actually a “money waste basket,” but it hardly went to waste, if you know what I mean.

Apparently there were too many bills to pen to a tree, for fear it would topple over, or because there wasn’t a suitable tree with enough limbs on it, so the emcee, Carol Irvin (see related photo). just gave her a wire waste basket full of bills. Rumor has it, it’s the most cash ever donated to a retiring IRS agent from the Tyler/Longview area. One attendee said if that’s the kind of trash she generated he is moving to her cubicle. Maybe it will rub off! I won’t say how much it amounted to, but there were more than one $10 and $20 dollar bills and several $5 bills, too. And the $1s … well it took several stacks to put them in and count. I “volunteered” my services to help her count the bills, if you know what I mean. The money tree is often given to help the retiree with whatever he or she plans to do upon said retirement. Well, since Cynthia and I plan to travel in our RV – the I-bus as we so aptly call it – everyone donated money toward travel plans.

The party included one of her former managers, who gave her a Wal-Mart card and several co-workers and other retirees who gave her various restaurant cards. They, indeed, will be very useful when we decide to go out for a nice meal. The emcee, Carol Irvin , presented Cynthia with a neat scrapbook of photos and past moments of her time with the “service” along with letters and e-mails from some who could not attend. A good time was had by all, but Cynthia’s smile was the biggest!