Lunch Box Love Note....

February 25, 2010

Dear Don,

It seems appropriate to put a note in this very last lunch I’m packing for you to take to work. The very last one. I wonder how many there have been? Literally thousands I’m sure.

It’s ironic that packing your lunch was never my favorite chore. Leaning too hard to the efficient side, I liked it more once I realized I could pack several at a time. There’s something extra tender about this last one.

I want you to know today, as you spend your last full day at work, how much it has meant to me - to know the man you are, what you are made of, what you invested in your job; I was always aware that it was for us, even when it didn’t feel good. When I didn’t love the long hours I did love the reminder that you are a man who gives his all to whatever task is at hand.

I respect you more than any man I have ever known. I love you, but it’s nice to respect you too. I am immensely blessed to be your wife, to have you as the head of our family. You are leaving everything that is familiar, and a place that you have found your worth in for over 30 years. I hope you can walk away with your head held high, knowing you gave it everything you had, you treated people with respect when they didn’t deserve it, you looked out for those under you, you were kind when others weren’t, you swallowed your pride more times than you care to count for a higher goal.

Our family gave up time with you while you were working, but even when you weren’t home with us, you were giving our children a priceless example of work ethic, pride in self, a respect for authority. You showed them what being responsible looked like, and how to persevere when you wanted to quit. You enabled me to give our daughters an example of how to support their husbands in their career.

Now it’s time to play! You’ve given your best to your career for many years, and it’s time for the next stage, when our kids and their kids will be blessed to share time with you, learn more life lessons, get to know their father and grandfather at this next stage of life.

I’m counting on being blessed to pack a lot more lunches for you, but these will be tucked into a cooler for you to take on the boat, or maybe a fishing trip on the road with your son or son-in-laws, or me. Because really there isn’t anything in life I want to do that isn’t at your side. I’ve been blessed to be there for almost 29 years and I’m counting on us being together for that many more.

I love you,

Bev