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Dear Jan,

It was a true privilege to participate in your retirement ceremony.  32 years in the Navy, serving on land and sea and in foreign countries as delightful as Italy and as dangerous as Iraq, you have most certainly earned our nation’s gratitude and a long and lovely retirement on the farm in Pennsylvania.

I enjoyed meeting so many of your colleagues and could tell from the ready grins on their faces and the enthusiasm in their voices that you really are a great leader.  But really, even when I told him who your were, that Lone Sailor guy just wouldn’t admire my knitting.  So disappointing!

The ceremony was anything but.  Your family was rapt with respect and love.

There were many laughs in the ceremony, but I was most touched by the moments of reflection.

And the ceremony where they passed the flag that had been flown over the Pentagon to you, especially with Allen participating, was incredibly moving.  The precise, choreographed, and slowly executed precision passing of the flags through the ranks, the pride showing on each face as they received and then passed the flag on, and especially the way they each gazed directly in each other’s eyes with such respect for each other and the flag and the country - wow, I believe it is safe to say there were not many in the audience who weren’t wiping a tear or two.

The look on your face as you prepared to receive the flag just slayed me.

But not as much as when you requested, and were granted, permission to go ashore.  I couldn’t get a good photo of that - my hands may have been shaking a bit.  But your respect and affection for the Chief of Naval Operations was captured in the handshake you gave him just after he granted you that permission.

Permission to stay ashore, plant some roots at Fair Winds, and enjoy friends and family without worry, knowing you’ve left the Navy prepared for the future.

Congratulations again.

Much love,

Ellen

Dear Jan,

I just finished the first half of Gima, my version of Cocoknit’s Paulina, which I still somehow hope to wear to your retirement on Thursday.  At some point reality will set in.  I wonder how much sleep I have to lose first.

Love,

Ellen

Dear Jan,

The Grand Rounds are a system of parks, byways, and trails that circle the city of Minneapolis.  Tracing the Chain of Lakes, following Minnehaha Creek along the southern edge,  and wending its way through Theodore Wirth Park, complete with quaking bogs, you can spend a day in the heart of the city but never know it because you are surrounded by such natural beauty.  The Victory Memorial Parkway is another special part of the rounds - 3.8 miles of trees lining a broad boulevard, planted to honor those from Hennepin County  who served in World War I, and down the middle of which runs a stunning bike trail.

We rode it all today, and because we rode to it to start riding it, that meant over 47 miles of pedaling.  And we can still function!

We attribute this to our much improved trip management.  We started earlier than the last time we tried this (the time we gave up about 2/3 of the way through and cut off the north portion in interest of making it home), and we planned many rest and eating stops of much greater duration and much smarter food than the first time we did this (the time we did finish it but were so bonked about 3/4 of the way home we got home mostly by growling at each other).  I took advantage of a lingering lunch stop to get some knitting in.

And Wilson had us stop at his chess club to look in on a tournament that was taking place.

It was just what we needed, taking our minds off work pressures and spending about 7 hours just focused on each other, helping each other find the trail, reminding each other to drink and eat, and just yukking it up like kids.

I plan nothing more this evening than dinner and knitting, continuing on the sweater that made the trip with me, which is the Cocoknits pullover I hope to finish for your retirement ceremony this Thursday.

I may be deluding myself - when I got on my bike this morning, I was this far along with the sweater - the left sleeve and the very beginning of the front and back of the sideways knit garment.

Luckily, the spiral shawl I just finished will go with the dress I plan to wear, too.  I don’t think that careful planning of resting and eating will really help me finish the remaining 3/4 of  this sweater.

I hope you are all finished up with work stuff other than handing in your keys.

Love,

Ellen

Dear Jan,

This last weekend was a weekend of finishes.

Wilson and I rode in the Tour de Cure, a bike ride that raises research funds for diabetes.  We did 27 miles in absolutely perfect weather.

It must have been all those wheels turning.  When I got home, I was simply compelled to finish spinning the last bit of silk/merino roving that I had started about two years ago when I bought this spindle.  So satisfying to have 4 oz spun, even more satisfying once I get it plied.

Did your sharp eye catch the last bit of finishing for the weekend?  Yes, underneath the TdC medal, my finished Spiral Shawl by Erica Gunn of DesigKnit.

The shawl is knit on US Size 1’s out of Juniper Moon Findley Dappled laceweight in the colorway, Woodland.  The 50:50 wool:silk blend gives it sheen, drape, and it blocked very nicely.

This was a test knit for Erica - watch for the pattern to arrive soon on her site.  The construction is clever.  Twin spirals circle your shoulders in a very simple to remember pattern of increases that makes this excellent travel knitting.

Oscar would be happy to circle your shoulders with a little kitty hug.  He tried to entice me to rub his belly at knit night, but I was busy weaving the ends into the shawl. (ETA: Oscar is one of Lisa’s kiddens.)

Selkie and The Poison Pawn find nothing amusing about another cat’s belly.

I hope you find your Last Week of Work to be highly amusing.

Love,

Ellen