December 11-19, 2007: Our Trip to Fort Lauderdale
	November 26, 2007: Fred's Pictures of Crump's Gardens
	Return to Index for 2007

Fred's Retirement  

This is going to be a very short page, but it records a significant event. Today, Friday, December 7, 2007, was Fred's last day at Crump Gardens. We have been talking for almost two years about the possibility of his retiring to allow more time for just enjoying life, but it was always an idea that Fred found it hard to get his head around. After you work somewhere for 27 years, change is difficult, but he has taken that major step.

In the many years I have known him, and in all the talking he has done about the Crump family and the people he works with, he has thought that they have always been distant with him and the other non-family employees. Without even meeting them, I, on the other hand, have thought that they thought more of him than being just an employee. When he told them he was leaving (almost three months ago), Fred thought that his last day would be just like any other. At first I thought I might either send a cake myself, or talk with one of the Crump wives about getting him one. But, as I suspected and as it turned out, I didn't have to. At 3PM today, Fred was called down to the shop where all the Crumps and many of the other employees were assembled and he got his retirement ceremony.

I knew Fred would be emotional, and so I was at his house when he came home today, showed me the remains of his retirement cake, talked about the little gathering, and showed me the going-away gifts he received. And he was emotional; anyone would be. But I can't take anything away from Fred here, his career was all his doing and his decision to leave was also his own. But now he (and I) can take time to enjoy ourselves while we are still young enough to do so.

When you read this, Fred, I say "Congratulations." You have put in yeoman service at Crump Gardens for over 27 years, and that is an achievement that few workers today can match.

Fred's Retirement Party at Ron and Jay's  

Ron Mathis and Jay Enriquez have known for some time about Fred's impending retirement, and they were kind enough to ask us up to their house on Saturday the 8th. Being with them on a Saturday night on the weekends Fred used to have to work has been a ritual for fifteen years now, but tonight was subtly different. The routine has ended but the friendship continues.

I hope that now we'll be able to spend even more time with Ron and Jay; already they are our most frequent companions. It was a surprise that they had acquired a retirement cake for Fred, and the little ceremony was very thoughtful (but got Fred all emotional again). Our thanks to them both.

You can use the links below to continue to another photo album page.

	December 11-19, 2007: Our Trip to Fort Lauderdale
	November 26, 2007: Fred's Pictures of Crump's Gardens
	Return to Index for 2007