Well. That's it then. I have worked my last day at what was in all probability the coolest job I will have ever had.

I'm terribly sad.

I made it through the day without crying - which is by no means a small accomplishment. I was given a small party in my office, and people wandered in and out of my office for 2 hours. My boss gave me an awesome statue of an American Eagle with it's talons outstretched, engraved with my name, a thank-you for my contributions and my hire date and termination date on the mahogany base. Then they took me out to lunch (which, since town is 40 miles away, is a big deal). I never cried.

The crying started the minute the door to my building clumped shut behind me. The girl that is my replacement was walking with me and I just melted. The one phrase I could say was "I didn't want to leave" and the bawling began. I don't think she knew what to do with me. I'm normally a bright happy cheery person.

Tears are terrible to see on a bright happy cheery person. It seems to put people at a loss. So rather than make her uncomfortable, I made the walk to my car in record time.

I managed to regain control of myself before I got to our access control building, and walked in. I finalized my employment papers, left a forwarding address for my final paycheck with our benefits department, and surrendered my badge.

And THAT my friends - was the hardest thing in the world. For those of you "in the know" about me, that badge was my life. It was hard to achieve that badge, a booger to maintain that badge, and shattering to discard it.

I can no longer go to my ex-workplace. I can't just pop in to say "Hi" to friends. I'll have to rely on luck and chances if I ever want to see those people that I just spent the last 8 years with ever again.

Good bye Pantex. I really was proud to be there.