Mel – thinking about how you’ve got just 2 more days….but hey, who’s counting? Surely not you, right?
Until I can retire in 10+ years, I’ll just have to live the retired life vicariously through you.
Wishing you all the best in your well-earned days of leisure! Time to build that rocket like Billy Bob.
Hang in there dude.
charlie — “Count your blessings….it could always be worse!”
Replies
Charlie,
Thank you for the message of congratulations on retiring. I guess it is like one of those "lifetime achievement" awards. "What did you do to win this?" ANSWER- I lived long enough. :-)
Tomorrow is the big day. Big Party! Today I have to meet with a bunch of people and turn in a computer, keys, phone card, etc.
It's been a great time at NASA since 1979. I started off as Headquarters Program Manager for Aeronautical Human Factors. Two years later, I started a Space Human Factors research and development program. Then in 1984, I started the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics technology program, which I stayed with for over a decade. Then I got kicked up to manage the entire space technology program (power, propulsion, materials, structures, computer science, sensors, etc). When the technology program was sent to another organization, I was invited to join the Astrophysics Division in Space Science, where I was responsible for the development of three spacecraft. Now I get to apply all that I have learned to fine woodworking, which I have been active in since 1968. I'll miss working with the folks from industry and from the NASA Centers. I'll miss the visits to Johnson, Kennedy, Jet Propulsion Lab, Goddard, Marshall, Glenn, Langley and Ames. But I have plans to do things to cherry, oak and maple that have never been done before :-) The folks here in Knots are as knowledgeable, smart, fun and exciting to work with as my cohorts at NASA. The beat goes on. If I win the lottery, I can go visit Lataxe and Philip and Derek and Richard Jones. Lots of wood out there. Lots of things to make. Maybe Lataxe will take me on as an apprentice.
Thanks for writing.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Congratulations, Mel. Not many people can look back on a career as satisfying as yours. Our nation is a 'wiser' place because of your work.Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
Frosty,
Thanks for writing. I am retiring with mixed emotions, but I'll get over it.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Be careful, Mel,
I had a conversation the other nite with a friend, on retirement. He pointed out that, when you are retired, you have to do nothing, which means, you never know when you're done.
Come see me on your day off,
Ray
Ray,
Yup, there will be no one to tell me when I am finished. But I keep reading your posts, about you working for you, and you being a hard taskmaster. So maybe being retired is like running a one man fine woodworking shop in Virginia :-)
Something seems wrong with that logic.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
I am retiring with mixed emotions, but I'll get over it.
Mel,
It'll take about an hour in your shop and you'll get over it.
Congratulations on your wonderful career and pending retirement. We expect to see many interesting gallery postings coming out of Va. in the future.
Best of luck,
-Chuck
Congratulations, Mel. What a great era in history to have worked for NASA, you could write a book! Enjoy, and if you ever get out to the Seattle area, drop me a line. Tom (tms), Peter Loh and I will take you out to breakfast or lunch. Funny, the last guy we ganged up on was visiting from Englad, doing jet engine work for Rolls Royce.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Forestgirl,
Thank you for the message and for the invitation. If Mary Beth and I are going anywhere near Seattle, we'll let you know. You and your gang are always invited to our home here in Virginia.
It is going to be an interesting adventure, this retirement thing.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel -
Congratulations on your retirement and I will second what Chuck said above. I retired 2 and a half years ago and have not regretted it one bit; in fact I probably had a hand in making some computers for some of your projects (if you used ones from Owego). But retirement can be hard work also - my brother in law and I are leaving at 6:45 in the morning to go fetch an old machine for my shop.
So relish the day, enjoy it - and then start having a blast. You've earned it.
Dale
Dale,
Thank you for the thoughts. Sounds like a good retirement is possible. You have made it work. I look forward to adventures like yours, going out early in the morning to get machines.
Have fun.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,
Congratulations!
I must admit to being a bit jealous though. I'm shooting for this coming August to start my journey into retirement. I for one am looking forward to it so I can badger the folks in here more than ever! :-)
Just remember one thing, YOU EARNED IT. You worked very hard all these years and it's a reward for all those years. And you've brought along a really nice family in the process. When you look back on all your accomplishments that's probably the biggest one of all.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 1/3/2008 9:19 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
MEL..Just remember that retiring is not that easy! Working was better as you had an objective to do the next day!I for one wish you well and always be happy doing what you do best!By the way.. I checked the NASA web pages and not of a mention of you leaving there! :>) Just funnin' ya'
Will George,
Thanks for the message. Today is my first day of retirement. So far, no problem. I slept late -- til 7, instead of the usual 5:45. That was good. Tonight I have my part time job at Woodcraft. In between is filled too. So things are looking good. Have fun.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
I slept late -- til 7!Gee if I did that, I would have died a few hours ago... LOL..
Oh Man Mel, Let the fun begin. I am sure there will be some things to miss about work like that, but it is probably best to get out before put you on a rocket to Mars.Well, Congrats, and on now to other challenges.
Did anyone just see those fireworks go off down there in DC?
There was a giant flash just a few minutes ago. Then this giant balloon rose up in the sky with Mels picture on it! I can see it all the way from NH!
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
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