Left work, flew west and I returned home with my psyche is intact. It's all good news.The last six months at work, of not being in charge and marginalized from the daily action, unscrewed me from that dangerous tight connection between what I did and who I am. I have many to thank for that -- in a good way. When I realized I was surrounded by colleagues my daughter's age, I knew it was time to let go. However, instead of sneaking out the office under the dark of after hours, I was pushed to step up to a good-bye celebration. Made me laugh and made me proud. Francisco, my successor CIO, summed up my work life better than I ever could have done in a message to everyone in the office. I quote:
When I reflect on Dorine’s departure, I’m reminded of a favorite line by the Spanish poet Antonio Machado: "Caminante. no hay camino, se hace camino al andar."
Loosely translated into English: "Traveler, there is no path, The path is made in going."
As Dorine indicated at her retirement party last week, she and so many women of her generation were offered only one path. That narrow path held little appeal for this strong-willed and independent woman. So Dorine made her own path. She set off into the bush and bramble with bold determination. Deviation from the path is never easy. It is fraught with peril. It comes with its share of scrapes and stumbles. There may be moments of confusion and more than a few times when you don't know your way. You can feel lost and lonely. But those who deviate from the path learn things they would not otherwise have known; because the fruits of discovery, surprise and self-knowledge do not grow on the path. They grow along the sides, and are sometimes sweetest deep in the woods.
Dorine is a pioneer. She is an authentic leader. She has been true to herself as she could only be by striking out on her own and creating her path. That it brought her to Peace Corps and into all of our lives is our good fortune. That it now takes her onto her next adventure is her great delight. What lies ahead? No one can tell; but I'm sure the explorer in Dorine is itching to set off on another journey. We wish her well; we thank her for her service, her courage, and her friendship.
On August 12, I handed in my badge, got my ethics briefing, did one last round of hugs and thank-yous, then headed out the door with a skip in my step. The next morning I flew to my 50th high school class reunion. For three days, I partied (almost like a teenager), reminisced and caught up with friends I see only once in every five years. Although there was over 100, there was a small gaggle of us who spent the nights into the wee hours, in our jammies, sharing our lives as if time had stood still. We drank a lot less than years before (that was good news), tried to eat less (that was a lost cause), looked at grand kid pics and shared what the future might hold for us. It was not all good news, none of us have led perfect lives and some of us face the shadows of cancer, widowhood and the like; but what was true and will remain true is the joy of sharing our youth and our friendships over the past 50 years. No matter what happens we will face it with humor and courage. None of us has given up on living, loving and making our lives what we think it can be. 
1. Don't stop what you start - just keep doing it. This applies to exercise especially after you get a hip or knee replaced. If you stop, you get lazy and then you get old -- really old. Don't tolerate pain when a joint can be "fixed".
2. Watch your money and plan ahead. Don't let an $18,000 new roof surprise you, but also, do not deprive yourself of pleasures -- a trip to Europe or whatever....just plan ahead. Invest wisely and often!
3. Keep up with technology. If you've never seen a little ol' lady work her iPhone, iPad and MAC simultaneously you haven't seen anything yet.
4. Keep up with the world. Don't let your world shrink. Joan belongs to book clubs, a monthly dialogue group, participates in here HOA as treasurer, teaches 4th graders in reading comprehension, takes water aerobics three times a week, and reads both the NYT and local paper daily. The older you get, the more there can be to do!
5. Be self aware and let people know what you know. With her hearing starting to fade and hearing aids yet to be properly adjusted, Joan announced to me -- my hearing is going so talk to my face and don't whisper. After shopping for two hours she declared, "I think it's time to sit down." So we went to lunch, sipped a couple of margaritas and relaxed before we did chores.
6. Keep driving to maintain your independence. Joan lives on a mountain, 4 miles from town. She aims to keep it that way as long as her feet can reach the peddles and her mind is functioning on all cylinders (which it absolutely is).
Before I left, we had friends from Tucson come in. What a rich trip! I enter "old age" with much energy and fresh look at what the rest of my life can be.
