On January 30th, 2009, 11 AM, I began my early retirement from Parker Hannifin. I worked there, mostly in Quality Assurance, for just short of 36 years. Only one person had more seniority than I, and it was a running joke we had that I was going to work there till I’d worked one day longer than Mike. It didn’t happen, so I was never Nr. 1 in seniority.
Sadly, five of the people in this photo have passed. I was blessed to work with each and every one in the photo.
I think this must have been taken in the 10th anniversary year of the plant, 1982. Most of us in the photo retired from the plant, which went through major updates in products produced and equipment over the years and became a cash cow for various owners, the last of which, Parker Hannifin, was my favorite to work for.
=(^+^)=
Retirement made possible getting my first kitty, Freckles.
Louie came shortly after.
And, of course, the kitty brothers, Andy and Dougy, followed Louie.
I’ve enjoyed my retirement!
Congratulation on enjoying retirement Life..
Stay happy ..Stay blessed..
Thanks! I am enjoying doing what I enjoy and when I want to.
It’s great to be able to retire when you have time to enjoy it
Exactly! I’ve had two friends retire and die within a year of retiring.
It seems like such a waste. (Even worse, one of my coworkers died on the job from a heart attack.)
Observing one coworker die within months of retirement, I modified my work ethic: no job is worth dying for, with the possible exception of saving the world!
♫Memories are made of this…♫ ♥
Wow Doug I know you know you were lucky to have such a great employer at the end. I am sorry too hear so many passed away, none of them looked that old. I always heard good things about Parker Hannafin, I’m glad you were able to have a fulfilling retirement and become an official Cat Man.
The photo was taken in 1983, so we all looked a lot younger…. Yeah, I feel blessed in many ways.
Well Doug, I doubt you’re heading back to work so keep enjoying your retirement. Andy will help you enjoy it. You two need some excitement in your lives. Perhaps a visit from Tyebe. She loves to take a running leap onto the dining table. Everything goes flying but Tyebe’s happy.
LOL! He gives me hi8s version of mayhem. His late brother was better at mayhem, but Andy has his charms, too!
congratulations dear Doug, this is wonderful memory, and you are a nice one, happy working and happy retirement how great… Blessing and Happiness, Thank you, love, nia
Thanks, nia! I took retirement four years early, and it was the best decision I made. Fortunately, I have the financial resources to do this.
Congratulations on your retirement anniversary, Doug,and thanks for the view into your life. It was also good to see all the subsequent kitties you have loved nurtured over the years. I hope Father Time is kind, and you and Andy have many more years.
Other than “iffy” health, things are good for me! The kitties have been a big part of that, as is old friends and family.
You deserve your Retirement and you have also helped many cats to have wonderful lives. Great Post!
Thanks! I hope so.
When this photo was taken you still have 27 years to work before your early retirement. How long did you work at this plant , Doug ? 37 years ? Personally I was in the teaching with various missions during 41 years and among them 2years in the army
You do not say why you retired only living with a cat, Freckles .
I wish you a happy tretirement anniversary.
In friendship
Michel
I worked just short of the 36 years. I spent three years in the US Army before that. Because of my health issues, retirement meant I didn’t have to take time off from work for medical appointments and hospitalizations that happened after I retired, but, fortunately, I had insurance that covered those times, unlike many Americans. I’ve also done some volunteer work, though I’m really limited for doing that now compar3ed with when I first retired.
I understand what you say about “limited ‘” Doug. It is the same for me .
You were happy at work, you are happy during your retirement – you are a wise man, and an happy Dad for your lovely cats. Félicitations et amitiés 🙂
In that regard, I am blessed! The first few years at the factory weren’t that great, but the last ones (after Parker Hannifin bought the company) were the best, thanks to that company’s progressive compensation plan and health insurance. Also, the best bosses I had over the almost 36 years came during the Parker Hannifin years.
Working in one place all those years is something to be proud of. I am glad you have enjoyed your retirement with cats.
I agree! Lots of families worked there, with three generations represented. That says something about the place! doubt I would work there that long now, but I also had family responsibilities that kept me there part of the time when I could have moved into jobs in other places that paid more, for example.
This is interesting, thanks for sharing, Doug. Your cats have all been cuties!
Yes, I have to agree! The first two were shelter kitties, and they proved how exceptional and good those can be. Andy and Dougy were offered to me after I picked up Louie’s ashes, so weren’t shelter kitties.
I can’t imagine 36 years in one place. The longest I ever worked in one job was eight and a half years and I think I liked that job the least. It was bought by two sisters a year after I started and they were the bosses from hell. I learned to ignore them which is what got me through it.
I had some bosses from hell myself, true bastards, but those after 1990 were mentors, decent fellows I enjoyed working with and for. I also can’t believe I stayed that long, but it happened!
A boss should be like a mentor. Too bad more don’t realize that.
I had bosses who failed to make use of my talents and knowledge and that of others in the department and made stupid, preventable mistakes. It got to the point with one where even the least motivated in the department realized the boss was on the edge of failure and they tried to point him in the right direction, too. (Of course, that one didn’t realize he could save himself if he just paid attention to his people. Eventually, he ended up on the trash heap, but not before he made a mess of things that took years to straighten out.)
Bosses are sometimes promoted not because they are the best but because they are considered good enough and the company can’t afford to move the best from their current position.
The worst boss got the job because his wife was trained in an inventory control system in one plant and we were in the process of adopting it in ours. He came along with her.
Figures.
Yes, he had exactly zero knowledge about quality management, the job he was brought to town to do, and at least two people in his department, three, were certified in the quality functions by the American Society for Quality Control, now the ASC. I was one of them.
An interesting insight into your life, Doug
Thanks, Derrick! I feel happy with my work and the opportunities it gave me, including representing the company at different out-of-state trips to Charlotte, North Carolina (a class on ISO 9001 implementation); Denver, Colorado – several trips (classes in preparation for an American Society for Quality Control Quality Engineer certification test and the test itself); Charleston, South Carolina (a week of Quality Manager’s meetings); Springfield, Missouri (a week of classes on Design Experiment applications); and Des Moines, Iowa (on implementi8on of a Ford Motor quality standard).
I’m glad you’re enjoying retirement and cat ownership! When I decided to retire, younger coworkers said to me, “I bet you’ll get bored and wish you never quit!” But as of this day (I think I’ve been officially retired for two years now) I’ve thoroughly enjoyed not having to get up at 5:30 a.m. to drive to a distant suburb for a job that was mostly underappreciated, though I liked it on its good days. And Sunny likes having her mom home all day as well! Lovely cat photos, as usual!
When I retired, one of the gifts was a book on how to survive retirement. I walked out the door at 11 AM the last day and never looked back! I haven’t had any problem adjusting to retirement, thanks to adequate finances and health insurance, the fun of the kitties and this blog, and connections with friends with whom I’ve been friend going back to toddlerhood! Of course, time is thinning out the friends and family, but I’m of the belief (from coming close to death a couple times) that your body lets you know when it’s time to let go, that death isn’t to be feared, just accepted and allowed when your body wants to go.
Congratulations on enjoying retirement. We do too.
Yes, I can tell that from your travel posts!
“I’ve enjoyed my retirement!” ????? We’re all hoping you’ve got a little bit more left, especially the little furry fella.
Exactly, I missed the “so far” – and hope it was just left out accidentally.
Who knows what the future will bring, frauhunne4u, but any health issues I have are in treatment and I’m functioning well with those treatments. People in my family tend to live into their 90s (on average), so that gives me some hope of joining most family members in living that long, too! (I will be 74 in March….)
Who can tell what the future bring JFWKnifton? My biggest concern is Andy outliving me. I did arrange for the two to go back to the person who gave them to me in the first case since she is a trained veterinarian technician and raiser of kitties. Dougy’s death simplified finding a home in that instance, but, like I say, I still hope to outlive him since he is a happy cat now but would have difficulties (I fear) adjusting to new circumstances. As for me, I come from a family that tends to live into their 90s….