57 Years. Wow.

My father-in-law retired today after 57 years in public service. He's a meteorologist for NOAA who started working in weather forecasting during the Eisenhower Administration. I found it interesting to hear people talk about the changes in how we've predicted weather over the  past half a century. We may make a lot of jokes about weather forecasters, but they do save a lot of lives.

About 150 people showed up in Maryland today for a lovely luncheon at the Silver Spring Doubletree Inn. I made a super quick in-and-out trip, as the date got set after I had already agreed to teach a writing class in Dallas every day for three weeks. So I flew out last night, my TA taught for me today, I attended the luncheon this afternoon, and I'm writing this from home in Texas. (I can't help but think of my ancestors coming across America in a covered wagon. Would it have blown their minds to think I could go to Washington DC and back in such a short amount of time?)

"Dad" left with class. After they presented him with plaques,  he surprised everyone by presenting the government with beautiful framed pictures of the five buildings the National Weather Service has occupied along with pictures of the directors. (They were large enough to require easels.) And he gave everyone present a book he'd written on the history of the National Weather Service.

I see where his sons get their strong sense of loyalty.