Say what?

Today was a very special day for me.  In usual manner, I get up, jack around with the dog, try to find something without wrinkles, slam a protein shake while the bike warms up and arrive to work 12 minutes late...hold on, that's normal.  What was special today was the spread of goodies on the cafe table prior to the daily 8:15 meeting, wasn't sure why.  Every day, there are 25-30 people gathered together to discuss all of the critical aspects of manufacturing an incredibly complicated product 24/7.  Typically, the meeting is about 10-15 minutes of reporting, then each and every person has the opportunity to speak.  I'm more of the listener, reactor type (hopeless introvert) so I usually pass when it's my turn to talk.

This meeting was special in that I was called up, pictures of me (in various stages of life) on the big screen in the background.  I took the opportunity to thank everyone and that I would miss them dearly.  The scheduler then instructed everyone to say something about me as it went around the room.  I've never been so honored in such a short period of time, somehow, I managed to keep my composure as the wonderful things were being said. 

After the meeting, I got to see first hand just how much I'm going to miss the 4 dear friends that I have in "the hood".  We are (35 years experience of working with other humans talking) the most cohesive group I've ever had the pleasure of working with.  Still maintaining my composure, I got to enjoy the banner sighed by everyone that was made for me perched right next the the meme "It's not easy being Belizezy".  If you recall, in late 2012 John McAffe was accused of murder in Belize.  He had a compound just outside of Orange Walk town where he (and a bunch of smart people) was working on an Antibiotic that was based on some type of special lilly pad that grew in the New River.  I took the river tour from Orange Walk town to Lamani (mayan ruin site) the year we went to Belize to take in a Christmas.  I'll share more on that time in a later blog post.

I was on John McAffe's compound 22, December 2012 just outside 

Orange Walk town, he was

 not available for comment

Anyway...the day progressed and as an embarrassingly long list of people I failed to tell I was leaving popped by to give their best.

After an incredibly HOT motorcycle ride down I-35 to get yet another shot to prepare for this journey I met my wife for a nice evening of Walmart shopping and Chinese.  I got to see my 19 year old daughter for a while and got all caught up.  Yep, it was a full day...

My fortune cookie tonight...really

 Proverbs 22:1 says "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."  Today I got to live this verse in a mighty way.  If at the end of this day I had the choice of trading what people said about me for a large sack of cash, it wouldn't happen, not for the world.  Thank you to all of you from Plastic Packaging Technologies it's been my pleasure to serve from the factory floor to the office.  
As for the second part of this verse that speaks of loving favor.  I saw, in a mighty way (in the form of tears) of my lovely, dear friends that work in 'the hood', you have made work less like work.  Nope, wouldn't trade you for silver or gold.  You're the best.  I thank God for you.  Of course, you already know that 'cuz we be open like dat'.