The Last Night

[RSKY]

Well........I am officially retired. Worked my last night in a factory tonight.

Why do women get emotional when saying goodbye?

My crew brought food in tonight and we ate at 'first break', that is 5:00. Then I started down the rows shaking hands with my people and telling them goodbye. It is 41 miles from my house to the plant and most live in Martin, Dyersburg, or somewhere else in Tennessee. So they, and I, know we will probably never see each other again.

I made it fine going down the rows shaking hands and slapping the guys on the back, trading insults and jokes, laughing and having a good time...... Until I got to the first young lady (actually about 30-35 but younger than my 56). As I had already done a dozen times I smiled, held my hand out, and said, "well I guess this is goodbye". She looked at me for a few seconds with her chin quivering, then burst out bawling and threw her arms around my neck.

What do you do?

All I could do was hug her back and say "it's okay honey, life goes on".

I have to stop and count. Yep, there are, were, seven women production workers in my section that have worked with me for more than a year. All but one cried and hugged me. The one that didn't is ticked at me for trying to fire her. If she had hugged me I would have expected a knife in the back.

As I continued around my section, which covered about two acres, I had some of the guys I had worked with the longest also suprise me. Two wouldn't look at me. They looked at the machine or at the floor when we talked.

I was not prepared for this.

I left halfway thru the shift.

Now I am retired, and planning on making up for all the years I have been apart from my lovely lady as I tried to make a living.

Life goes on.

 

[dcyrilc]

Congrats. That's a long run in one profession. I had 26 years in my first and I'm at 6 years on my second. I figure about 14 more years and I'll be right there with you.:thumbsup:


Sorry, I guess you said 41 miles not 41 years.:laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

It's a milestone that not everyone reaches... take time to enjoy and remember you've earned it!

 

[mmurphy]

I am feeling a tear coming on right now.............. cause it is not me being able to retire!! Cograts, I think! I bet the boss has a lot of work for you to do now.

 

[JDgreen227]

I have been following and posting replies to your threads as the days dwindled down to none.

Got one question I need answered....are you going to spend more time on TBN now?

Once again, CONGRATULATIONS. I know I wouldn't miss that long commute, or the expense of buying the fuel. Know what is funny, I hate to drive, but I drove big trucks for a living for 31 years, when I was getting PAID to drive it wasn't so bad...

 

[jimmyj]

Congratulations RSKY. Health and happiness to you!

 

[jinman]

Woohoo! Welcome to the good side of life.:thumbsup:

 

[NativeSon]

Yehaw!!!Congrats. Don't even try to wipe that smile off your face.

Good Luck & God Bless

Charlie

 

[Thomas]

Congrats well deserve.
Now you'll have more time for project list...fishing,napping,puttering etc. etc.

 

[Sigarms]

You're very lucky to have worked with such people.

Just recently found out a company I work with (who has been working with a "business adviser") let go an employee who has been with them for over 20 years. The guy let go was getting ready to retire in June, but the company just brought him into the office and let him go, just like that. Kind of lost a little respect for them because I know business is business, but don't know how you do people like that (particularly one who has been loyal and hasn't been a "problem").

 

[gregsons]

When you got in your truck pulled out of the lot and looked back at the building did you think to yourself, Ill miss that place, or thank God thats over with?

 

[RSKY]

When you got in your truck pulled out of the lot and looked back at the building did you think to yourself, Ill miss that place, or thank God thats over with?

I will miss 'some' of the people. I worked for some good people. My department manager was top notch as was the guy over me on my shift. My fellow supervisors were also very good. I am really going to miss some of the union people. There were some that watched my back for me and did their best to keep things running smooth. It will be a long time before I can stop wondering how and what they are doing.

On the other hand there are some that if I never see them again it will be too soon.

I will not miss the factory itself.

I only worked there three and a half years. So I do not feel 'ownership' in the place. I can drive a few miles from my house and see what remains of the 69 acre under roof plant that I worked in for thirty three years. Started at age nineteen and was fifty two when it closed. I felt like I owned a part of that place. Being a supervisor in the area I had made me one of the people whom everybody knew. If I go to Wal-Mart or any other store I will see somebody I know. And my wife taught school for thirty three years. So we can't go out to eat or shopping without being stopped by somebody who knows us. Usually several people whom one of us has worked with in the past.

This amazes my sons-in-law

The feelings I had when I went thru the gatehouse the last time were regret that my working life is over, regret that I will never see some good friends ever again, and regret that I could not have done a better job.

I also felt excitement that I was starting a new phase of my and my wife's lives. Excitement that I was shedding a great responsibility for a greater freedom. And anticipation in starting a new era in my life.

I also felt a great sadness knowing that the greater productive part of my life is over. Now I will 'play' and help my kids and relatives. And in the back of my mind is the realization that my time will soon be over even as I watch the future grow in the shape of my grandchild and the grandchildren to come.

The drive home that night was a long one and yes all these thoughts were running thru my mind as I drove thru the rain to be with the one waiting at home for me.

Life goes on.

RSKY

 

[JDgreen227]

Very well stated, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us here.

I was able to retire at a relatively your age, (51) as did many others I knew at my worksite. Many of us hoped that by our leaving, it would make employment opportunities more available to the younger generation. Jobs are scarce here in Michigan, especially so for those without a college education. I often wondered that by my retiring early, it helped someone else get a foot in the door to begin their working career, or even get a step up the ladder.

Does anyone else have the same thoughts?

 

[Nissan197]

Congratulations on the retirement!! I am 38 and have probably 16 years left before retiring, but I am not in a hurry. I do enjoy my job, but the one thing I have noticed as I get older is how fast the years go by compared to when I was younger. I just wish the time would slow down.....Enjoy your retirement, you have earned it!!

 

[Taylortractornut]

Congratulations on the retirement. When I was 21 I had to hold back tears when an old crane Operator I worked with retired I learned alot from him and he was one that we all looked up to. Its hard when a good hand leaves when we lose one to a job change or retire ment its a big thing.

 

[300UGUY]

Very well stated, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us here.

I was able to retire at a relatively your age, (51) as did many others I knew at my worksite. Many of us hoped that by our leaving, it would make employment opportunities more available to the younger generation. Jobs are scarce here in Michigan, especially so for those without a college education. I often wondered that by my retiring early, it helped someone else get a foot in the door to begin their working career, or even get a step up the ladder.

Does anyone else have the same thoughts?

I had some of the same thoughts, but it didn't last too long. The plant closed a year later. That was 3 years ahead of the date published in 2007. I was 53. Jobs can kinda be like a hole in water - they just dissappear.

 

[ultrarunner]

None of the shops back when I worked at a Tool and Die shop in the 80's are still around... there was so much manufacturing in the SF East Bay to see it go in the course of 20 years was astonishing... We had big accounts like Caterpillar, Crown Zellerbach, Kellogs and Owens Illinois and lots of smaller ones too... sad when the way of life and brain trust disappears.

Once in a while I will see someone I worked with back then... they all say they were lucky to retire when they did.

I really think the retirement for private industry is fast becoming a thing of the past... just about the only game in town left is government or one of the big Utilities.

Enjoy this time... you've earned it!

 

[300UGUY]

None of the shops back when I worked at a Tool and Die shop in the 80's are still around... there was so much manufacturing in the SF East Bay to see it go in the course of 20 years was astonishing... We had big accounts like Caterpillar, Crown Zellerbach, Kellogs and Owens Illinois and lots of smaller ones too... sad when the way of life and brain trust disappears.

Once in a while I will see someone I worked with back then... they all say they were lucky to retire when they did.

I really think the retirement for private industry is fast becoming a thing of the past... just about the only game in town left is government or one of the big Utilities.

Enjoy this time... you've earned it!

I am a Tool & diemaker. I worked in 12 different plants in my career. Every single one is gone.

 

[ultrarunner]

I am a Tool & diemaker. I worked in 12 different plants in my career. Every single one is gone.

Sad... but my experience also.

The collective brain trust of these guys is something lost forever.

 

[Marlowe]

The last time one of my co-workers shed a tear when I left it took me a bit by surprise too. On my last day, after the doors were closed, we all poured a drink and shot the breeze. Then a three hundred pounder shook my hand and teared up a bit. Trust me, it's not just the women.