bawanna retirement get together.

[Bawanna]

A Sgt buddy at work took a bunch of pictues at a little send off get together Saturday, thought I'd share them. It was BBQ gun themed, it was a might chilly in another Sgts barn so lots of jackets but a great time and lots of wife hugging.
Came home with a lifetime supply of "Good" Scotch and Whiskey and the department gave me my armorers Glock 21. Had it a long time at my desk so kind of special to me.
Hope this link works.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN4bB2owr1-Ffs1G-8vBuu_2PTGvYrFGGww4IBO5ZssC1F-mHf4Sh2U98Cg1-JaPA?key=b01fb05mVHljX0k4THUyeHd0cFNRUTU0MnlkTl93

[Bawanna]

Hank the pig was a big hit, just wandered around. Had a big Rotty friendly as could be also, known him since he was a pup. Gets along find with the pig except for vittles, then the fight is on.
Kids loved them. That was the other half of the theme, BBQ guns and kids.

[JohnR]

Wow, even Jocko's wife showed up (3rd to last picture)! Looks like a fun time!

[Bawanna]

That was his mistress, not his wife.

[Bobshouse]

Congrats again Joe, looked like a great time for all...how are you holding up?

[berettabone]

It was a nice thing for them to do. Where was the 1911?????????? A buddy of mine had a pig that looked just like Hank. His name was Morty. Lived to be a ripe old age. Lived out in the barn also. He loved any kind of corn chip. I used to bring him apples and potatoes. Loved to get belly rubs and ear scratches. I used to watch him fling cats in the air with his nose when they tried to test his food. If he had a good pile, he would share, but when the scraps got low, he'd commence to flinging. The dogs were even smart enough to stay away. He was always good with kids. I see that they keep Hanks tusks in check. When it was tusk trimming time at my friends house, all hell usually broke loose. They hate you screwing around with anything. We gave Morty old sweaters and coats and blankets to use for his bed in the winter. He had some fine digs. I see the only smart one in the group was carrying her SP101:p Your inserts??????????

[skiflydive]

What a great thing to do for you Colonel! Hard to keep a dry eye I'll bet. Cheers!

[JohnR]

That was his mistress, not his wife.

Oh crap, don't tell his wife! That would be baaaad.

[Bawanna]

Congrats again Joe, looked like a great time for all...how are you holding up?

Still a strange place this retirement. I had a week or so and then my mom had major issues. Hospital, now rehab and then nursing home so I've been running trying to sort that all out and visit her and stuff. Retired just in time as I wouldn't have time for it before. Hopefully get her squared away and I can start looking for myself again.
She's about an hour away in a crazy growth city so it's traumatic just getting there. I grew up there when it was rural, now it's like downtown Seattle.
Taking a break today, mental health day and get back at it tomorrow I guess. "or not".

[wyntrout]

Congratulations, Joe! I'm so happy for you. I enjoyed your pictures, too. :)

[yqtszhj]

Looks like a good time. Those food pictures made me hungry.

Are any of those 1911 grips Bawanna made?

[Bawanna]

Most were bawanna made. One fella put fake pearls on his, thought it was more BBQ. Told him Patton was rolling over in his grave but they looked nice. His wife was the one wearing the polished SP101.
It was so chilly that most were kept under jackets. I decided to go cowboy (everyday) and strapped on the Vaquero.

[jeepster09]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

[Wlfman13]

Looks like a great time was had by all!

Congratulations, Bawanna! And, thank you for sharing the photos!

-Wlf

[GROTMAN]

Oh crap, don't tell his wife! That would be baaaad.

BET YOU POSTED THAT WITH A SHEEPISH GRIN :rolleyes:

https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/funny-sheep-260nw-259117055.jpg
(https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiBr73D__TlAhWineAKHZoDAO4QjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shutterstock.com%2Fsearch%2F funny%2Bsheep&psig=AOvVaw0JKO35YR9jKDdiMVslyIxM&ust=1574208965649138)


CONGRATS AGAIN ON YOUR RETIREMENT BAWANNA. WISH YOU WOULD STOP RUBBING IT IN.. JUST TURNED 64 LAST WEEK AND GOT 2 YRS TO GO. GUESS I WILL TRY TO LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOU TIL THEN.

[Harrylee]

Now pace yourself, you have time to do what needs done. Not what it’s like in the rats race when we work and only weekends to get things done. Life just may slow down a bit and that’s what you want. Enjoy Joe ya got a lot of stuff you want to do!

[Bawanna]

Two years to go, I wouldn't start thinking about it yet, that's a long ways off. The worst part for me was the last month. It came on kind of sudden, I only decided to retire a couple months before that. The end was in sight and I couldn't wait for my last day and roll out.
Do plan well in advance if you do plan to retire, not sure your trade or occupation but nothing happens fast. I still have a few open ends with Social Security and Medicare. Big concern is my union Medicare Supplement. A single medical bill can ruin a person quick.
I just won't get sick or have anything go wrong. (yeah right)

[Armybrat]

Looks like a proper celebration for a job well done by a much appreciated member of the force & community. The Vaquero is a nice touch.... and apparently so were the hugs. :amflag:

Congratulations, now take your time getting used to your new schedule, and best wishes for your mom.

[Alfonse]

Looks great! You even got hugs from the pretty ladies. Congrats again on the retirement. I'm looking forward to it when it's my turn and that can't be soon enough.

Cheers, c'mon over and hang out a spell.

[gb6491]

Thanks for sharing the photos and commentary Colonel! It does look like folks were having a great time. Refreshing to see the iron, especially on that one gal....not bad on you either. A proper send off with some 1911s present. Cool that they gave you the G21:cool: That pig reminds of the scene in Pulp Fiction where they are discussing "charming pigs".
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

It's a shame it wasn't warmer in that barn, all the girls (well most of them) were wearing iron. All the woman there were wifes so it wasn't just cops packing heat. All the guns had stories and/or sentimental value of some sort. They set it up as either cowboy or camo. I think the cold kind of negated that as everybody kept their coats on. Still good and even Hank the pig had a good time.
The cool thing is my first chief who was the absolute best came all the way from Idaho for the get together, the interim Chief who liked equally well drove for over 3 hours for it. I was debating going myself till I heard my first chief was coming and then I knew I had to go.

[quikduk]

Joe,

Congratulations on the retirement! I have another 10 or so to go.

I am still carrying my MK9 Elite with your second set of Rosewood grips!

Warmest Regards and best wishes for you and your family.

Quikduk

[Planedude]

Congrats again Bawanna, that was a mighty fine looking send off party.
My Wife was able to retire at the ripe old age of 52. My lady ran the County Tax office (car tags/titles) and it was a very high pressure job. I know she is way better off with the job in the rearview mirror...
That said, I don't know how she gets everything done today, the "retirement world" keeps her very, very busy.
Do be ready for the ride sir, hang on to your hat and don't forget to grin!

[Bawanna]

So far it's not picnic for sure. Dealing with my aging mother and rehab and nursing home and mostly sisters telling me what to do. Asked my mom today to remove me and have the 2nd Executioner (my sister) take over and leave me out.
She said no way, if the sisters (I have 2) give me a hard time disinherit both of them and keep everything yourself. Not that there's much to keep, her words not mine.
I did get three guns out of her safe today and a note she wrote that said any guns she has are to be mine and the safe they are in too, so pretty good day.
Told her my dream was still for her to outlive me and save me from all this headache but I don't think that's gonna happen. At least I'm retired, I'd never have time for all this if I had to work, so guess it works out.

[340pd]

Great pictures and thanks so much for all your service.

[berettabone]

Dealing with parents is never an easy thing to do. I've done it 4 times, both mine and the wifes. Luckily, I had no siblings, but had to deal with the wifey's.:der::blah::laser:

[yqtszhj]

So far it's not picnic for sure. Dealing with my aging mother and rehab and nursing home and mostly sisters telling me what to do. Asked my mom today to remove me and have the 2nd Executioner (my sister) take over and leave me out.
She said no way, if the sisters (I have 2) give me a hard time disinherit both of them and keep everything yourself. Not that there's much to keep, her words not mine.
I did get three guns out of her safe today and a note she wrote that said any guns she has are to be mine and the safe they are in too, so pretty good day.
Told her my dream was still for her to outlive me and save me from all this headache but I don't think that's gonna happen. At least I'm retired, I'd never have time for all this if I had to work, so guess it works out.

Your mom sounds like someone I’d like.

Here’s a odd but funny story (funny from my weird families point of view anyway.) My mom said she is going to get “Do Not Resuscitate” tattooed on her chest. My dad went into cardiac arrest and after 35 minutes cpr they got his heart beating again. She asked after so long with no heartbeat why did they do that? If Dad knew what they did he’d be really ticked off and if he ended up in a nursing home he’d make sure everyone regretted it. Dad never woke up again and passed 11 LONG days and nights later. That was when mom said she was going the tattoo route just to avoid any confusion.

Now it’s me working with mom on life stuff too since I’m the eldest, live closest, and the one that would agree to do what she wants and not what I want. Just one of those things we have to do I guess.

[Bawanna]

Yeah, moms a tough one. She's still hoping to go home at least for a few days but it just isn't going to happen.
It's kind of tough as it's mostly her memory and now she can't see very well. So she can't do much. I'm hoping that they get her a little more mobile and with other people around all the time she'll do something enjoyable for her.
My next youngest sister lives pretty close, minutes away, I'm about an hour and driving from a nice rural human area into a snarled traffic nightmare full of California transplants most of whom apparently don't know how to drive or act human. So each trip takes a few months off my longevity.
My aunts have been visiting also, I'm mostly focused on not letting her think we've abandoned her.
Something that has to be done.
I've spent 4 hours this morning sorting through paperwork I retrieved from her safe yesterday, everything leads me to believe she hasn't opened the safe since 2007.
Was hoping to find the original will, some papers indicating her wishes and the title to her Toyota Rav that my wife and I are buying because she wanted us to. We live on a nasty hill and it's bad in the winter. Course she said she'd take 400 dollars for it. I told her we were paying 5000 which is slightly less than dealer trade in price. Mostly to keep my sisters at bay. My wife didnt even want to do that to avoid conflict. Can't be avoided.
Oh well it's a great life if you don't weaken.

I been thinking about a tattoo myself but I'm skeered of needles. I was gonna put the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria all on my chest sinking but heck that's a lot of needle pokes and ink ya know.

[Armybrat]

Hang in there Bud. It’s hard but You’ll get it done.

Went through all that with my Dad, FIL, and MIL.

[Longitude Zero]

Congrats on retirement. I've got 36 years in and it looks like I will hit 40 and then out.

[Armybrat]

I was out of the classroom after 30.
My SIL did 44 years teaching at Round Rock high school.