This summer Roy, Scarlett and I drove out to Tucson & California to see all the new grand babies and to see our children and my folks. On the way to Tucson, one of our stops was in Bossier, La. Roy had some friends there and we made plans to have dinner. We went to dinner and had a good time. We couldn’t stay long because we had left Scarlett in the hotel room and we were not sure how she would react to being left alone in a strange place.  She was fine. As we were driving across the country, probably someplace in Texas, we were talking about his friends and he said that he had 3 people in this world he could count on to be there for him in an emergency, present company excluded.  So, my mind is reeling. I text one of the girls he works with about when the December UTA (reserve weekend) is and I begin to make plans for his retirement weekend. At first I was just going to have his 3 friends and no one from Moody AFB but I knew that there were people from here who would like to tell him how they too felt about him. So by the end of the trip to California and back home down Route 66, I had his 3 friends, wives and children included coming and the date.  Once I got home and Roy was back to work. I confirmed that there would be our friends from Ohio, our friends from Bossier and his friend from Lake Charles, La. They all would stay the weekend.

The party was 5 months away and my mind is working on every little detail, I changed the menu a few times. I wanted to make this a weekend one he would enjoy and not stress over. It was my job to do the stressing. I kept it quiet for 4 1/2 months. I painted commemorative mugs to put in our visitor gift baskets.  I took cookie orders a month out, so I could make everyone’s favorite cookies. I wanted everything to be perfect .

Friday afternoon our friends got here from Ohio before Roy got home from work. Maybe 10 minutes. He was so happy to see them. We had missed them. Roy talks to him all the time and he had guessed they were coming.  We were still in the yard when our friends from Bossier showed up. Roy had seen their names on my RSVP list but I never confirmed his suspicions.  Once everyone had gotten settled and Roy got out of his uniform. I got dinner ready. We had Lasagna, salad and bread and great conversation.

Saturday we woke to Roy’s biscuits and gravy. There were no plans for Saturday during the day, so everyone could relax.  Roy did take them through town and then they were back, there is not much to see of Alapaha. There are some great old houses and they enjoyed that.

I invited a few friends of his from work and our friends from Ray City over Saturday night for a small get together.  They all seemed to have a good time. We had too much food but that is normal. There were some who did not show and that caused extra food. We had the usual hamburger, hot dog, potato salad and pork and beans, chips for dinner.  The theme for the night is “He is hanging up his boots” so I made caramel candy combat boots because they were the right color. The cupcakes were german chocolate with coconut pecan frosting.

The guys hung out by the grill because that was where Roy was and he wouldn’t have had it any other way. The girls were inside because it was cold out. I was really hoping for a warm night so we could all hang out on the porch. I bought special lights for the back porch. There was not a detail I did not have covered. I did a play list of music so as not to offend anyone, it was all Roy’s old country music with some of his favorite songs thrown in. The night ended early for the folks who had to drive back to their homes but we stayed up chatting with our visitors.

Our traveling friends left the next day with breakfast sandwiches in hand, just as I had planned.

The party was well worth it and I would do it again for Roy. He greatly appreciated all the work that was put into it. Now on to retirement! YEAH!!

 

I had one motto that kept me going, if it doesn’t get done, no one will know because all your plans are in your head. The party was going to be great no matter what because our friends were here to celebrate with us. I would like to thank them for taking the trip.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Prosperous New Year! 2017 look out Close Quarters is ready for all the wonderful gifts you have to offer!!!

Kelly