Farewell Party and Return to Savannah

     I was truly humbled by the number of colleagues that turned out for the going away party.  It was so packed that the pub "Starvin Marvin's" had to open up an adjacent room.  Operating room staff from Baptist, St. Elizabeth's, St Mary's hospital and Beaumont Bone and Joint helped turn the initially sedate farewell party into a raucous send off.
      I was asked to give a few comments about my 15 years with Anesthesia Associates and as I was covering what I thought were my contributions to the group (ie pushing for more regional anesthesia, bringing on nurse anesthetists),  Dr. Osborne-one of the "old timers" (of which I am now one!)  commented , "You don't look old enough to retire!"
 I responded, "It was a Canadian thing.  It's cold in Canada, so we learned early how to keep warm and stay looking young.... Sex twice a day!...sometimes with a partner!"
It was all down hill from there!  Hugs, kisses, laughter, congratulations and even a few tears flowed and along with a copious consumption of alcohol turned this into a party that I am told was, over the next few days, referred to as a "Dr. Matthews style party!"
     In the end, there sat two old friends nursing their last cocktail talking about all the trials, tribulations and previous escapades (not uncommonly lasting till dawn!).  As the staff turned the chairs up on to the tables and the lights were dimmed, David Nannan and I finished our last drink and arms around each other's shoulders headed out the door.  Things would be changing for both of us, but we vowed to stay in touch, neither of us wanting to let go of the good times we had in the past.  Fortunately neither one of us had to work in the morning as I am told there were a lot of people at the hospital "dragging ass" the next day.
     I needed to leave for Naples, if I stayed any longer there was a good chance I would change my mind and I have to get the boat to Maine to take my grandson out to see the whales. There was a condo to prepare for what could be a 9 month absence and preparations to make to get Docs's Holiday ready for the rest of the trip to Maine.
      Arriving at Isle of Hope in Savannah, Georgia, we were confronted with a boat that needed to be cleaned up after tropical storm Beryl blew through and of course a few mechanical issues that need to be fixed before we can leave.  We put a pork roast in the crock pot to simmer all day for the pot luck supper at the marina while we used the marina's courtesy car to return our rental and resupply our depleted food stores at the local "Piggly Wiggly". 
     What a great bunch of folks at the pot luck supper. Of interest is Pam and Dave originally from Stamford CT, travelling on Drift Away a 1980 Cheoy Lee 43 foot trawler (www.trawlerdriftaway.blogspot.com). They were traveling south on the ICW  when one of their dogs had problems and they stopped to take her to a vet.  That was months ago. They stayed. Pam now works for the vet and Dave enjoys his day marvelling at the beauty of living on the ICW in Savannah.  I smell danger here!  Breathtaking scenery, relaxed atmosphere and congenial interesting people asking us to stay!  Careful Ralphie! You have people waiting for you to get the boat home.  Being easily seduced, I must  keep focused on the goal. Get shit fixed and Get going! So, I will be working on repairing the 12 volt water pump that gave up the ghost, the forward air conditioner that no longer works and the aft cabin flush that won't stay pressurized. Without the 12 volt pump anchoring out means running the generator and spoiling the serenity of any anchorage, so it is the priority. The rest can be dealt with underway so hopefully we will be leaving Savannah tomorrow.