I really didn't realize how emotional I would get over my parents retiring. But, Ben and I went to the temple today, and all I could think about during the session was all that my parents have done for DECADES to support us and care for us, and now- finally- they get to relax and enjoy the fruits of their hard work. They are incredible people, and I'm so happy for them!
Here's my FB tribute:
I get to brag on my parents as today was a major milestone in their lives. Today was both of their last day of work- they have now officially entered the world of retirement!
My parents are, without a doubt, the hardest workers I know. At one point my dad worked three jobs to put food on the table for us. He’s worked the swing shift and the graveyard shift. He worked on the railroad and at the docks. He’s a blue collar union man. Often growing up we would come home from school to find a transmission on the kitchen table. I have never seen him without grease encased in his fingernails. He taught us kids that honest, hard work is nothing to be ashamed of- even if it meant cleaning toilets for four years to get out of college debt free (shout out to my Marriott Center Peeps!).
My dad has 45 years of hard manual labor under his belt. He is a mechanic. I remember the day we got a phone call that he got on the wrong end of a crow bar and was rushed to Harborview and emergency jaw surgery. He never wore a wedding ring because when he was first married he almost welded his ring into his finger.
We were very poor growing up. My dad doesn’t have/care about much in the way of worldy status. He wouldn’t know, or care about, a name brand tie if it hit him in the face. His greatest church calling was Webelos Leader. But, he constantly used his talents to bless others. I remember one night around midnight we got a call from the father of one of my best friends. He was leaving the next day to take his oldest son to college, but couldn’t get the truck to start. He wanted to know if my dad could come over and help fix the truck. Without even thinking about it, my dad jumped out of bed and spent the next couple of hours getting the car ready to go. We pretty much always had about 6 non-running vehicles in our front driveway that my dad was working on (sorry to our neighbors- I’m sure even our Christmas treats didn’t make up for all the cars Kirsten McCarl had to put up with).
My mom worked equally hard. After getting married while still in high school (totally normal for rural Idaho residents), she then had 5 kids in 6 years (you read that correctly). When my youngest brother started kindergarten, my mom went to work. Yes, we definitely needed the money, but I’m pretty sure she also needed to get away from us kids! She started out working at the Hostess Factory- cleaning the large machinery at night. This made us the coolest house on Halloween because we got to hand out Twinkies, but after a few years her back gave out and she had to quit. She went to work at a bank for 25 years, then retired from there to go work for my dad at the shop he and my uncle started.
I remember when I was 8 I broke my arm. She couldn’t get to the ER. Her best friend came instead (thank you Sue Hart for being such an amazing friend to come over and care for her 8 year old daughter). I was pretty upset for several years that she was working instead of being there to help me, but now that I am older I can look back and realize her sacrifice. That must have been very difficult for her, and the many choices she had to make between work and family must have been excruciating.
Sacrifice- that’s a word that describes my parents! They gave so much so that all of us kids could participate in every sport imaginable, band, piano lessons, and so much more. Hopefully they can love and enjoy this new phase of their lives- they have definitely earned it!
Love you Mom and Dad!
And, here's a comment that was left on my post that just needs to be remembered (I hope my kids know how lucky they are to have such awesome grandparents on both sides of the family!)
Sue Hart Such a beautiful tribute, Chris! Your parents are the best 💕. I remember a time when Tom was in a treatment facility and I had taken my car to Firestone for an alignment. It started making a loud noise when I was driving it home afterwards so I took it back to them. The new repair was going to cost $90. I didn't like it- felt like they were taking advantage of me because I was a woman but I agreed to it. When I went to pick it up, they told me that it was more extensive than they'd thought and it was going to cost $150! I called your dad and he told me to tell them to take it off the lift and to bring it to him. He and Bill-can't remember his last name right now (but I bet I will at 2am!)-went over my car and found nothing wrong. I have always been so very grateful to him for that and for his unconditional kindness, service, and support. And your mom- she has always been my hero! I love her so much!! I remember how hard it was for her to not be able to be there when you broke your wrist. You were like one of my own though so I was more than happy to be there with you. Your dad really wanted to stay with you but someone needed to be picked up from soccer practice or a game and I didn't know how to get to the field. No google maps in those days 😢. I'm so happy that they get to retire!!
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