It's 8:31 a.m. on Monday Morning...

...and despite what I thought yesterday it doesn't feel like being on vacation. Last month, last week, as late as yesterday I thought that it would feel like I was on vacation, but I realize that it's not vacation. Another job or a volunteer commitment aside, I'm not going back to the job I held for nineteen years. There's still a party for work friends on Thursday, but I'm not joining the folks with umbrellas who are heading to the subway, and I'm not worrying about meetings, phone calls and brochures that need to be printed.

Instead, I'm blogging, I've brewed a pot of coffee and I'm enjoying the beautiful flowers that K and Jess sent to me on Friday.

My official last day was Friday and it was a wonderful day. My staff gave me a beautiful breakfast, with an array of delicacies. Donna made her fabulous whoopie pies -- with my favorite lemon cake. I thought there might be bagels and coffee, but it was so much more than that.

  Whoopie pies are front and center and they share the table with a red velvet cake and a cake with fresh fruit and whipped cream. All delicious!

 This is my motto. It's a gift from Brandon, who was our unit administrator and my dear friend. The cake, from a bakery in Brooklyn known for red velvet cakes, was fabulous. 

The day was lovely, touching and one to long remember. I don't think I could have felt more loved or appreciated. Many people stopped by to visit and I received cards, email, gifts and phone calls from colleagues past and present. I had a few work things yet to do and my office needed a final packing up, but I left the packing until Sunday and just enjoyed spending time with friends. I finished packing (and discarding) yesterday in about an hour, but the visiting couldn't have waited.

And today? I've got a list of things I'd like to do and this is one of them. I'm going to Michael's -- thank you note supplies! -- and going to Whole Foods in the middle of the day, which has been a goal of mine.  There's chicken to cook and a friend to meet for a drink this evening. I'm hoping to walk a mile, which I am making a goal for every day. High on my list is to unpack three shopping bags of things I brought home from the office. I think a lot of things will be discarded, but that's very high on my goals. 

I'm also planning to read one of the books I brought home from BookExpoAmerica -- an extraordinary day on Saturday -- but that's a post for another day.