Yesterday Patt's company celebrated her retirement with a party in the parking lot between the office buildings at their Raleigh offices as is their custom.  In addition to staff from the local office staff from other offices attended as did people who had worked with Patt from other agencies around the state.  It was quite nice and many wonderful things were said about her.  I asked her quietly as an aside where was this always patient, understanding (among other platitudes ) person they were talking about?

The photo above is of some of Patt's former direct reports along with their new supervisor.

and here is the view from the "family section as Luke, Laura, John Paul and back of my head, and Lydia's hat are prominent.  Julianna is sitting up with Patt in this picture while  Patt's former supervisor and person who hired her away from Apex is telling of recruiting Patt.  

They did indeed say very nice things about Patt and her contributions to the company and to the many communities that they served over the years.  It was obvious they meant them too.

Patt was given among other nice gifts a beautiful magnetic wall map with little magnets and directions to mark locations of travels and visits in her retirement.  The intent is to seriously follow that direction.

Though the party was but yesterday, Patt's last day of work was actually two weeks ago in Asheville at a conference that ended at noon.  Rather than driving back to Raleigh,  those last four hours of being employed.

Here is Patt hard at work, practicing being retired enjoying the Little Tennessee River.

and the view into western NC real near Murphy.  The return to Raleigh can happen whenever.  You know, Patt's retirement starts on Monday and if she uses that day or the next to return to Raleigh so what.