JulieAloha

April 6, 2017

I’m grateful to call this sweet, funny, loving woman, Marlene, my friend. This was her last day of work at the Zoo; she has earned her well deserved retirement and we celebrated her all day. We began with a group picture at our All Staff pancake breakfast, then cupcakes, flowers and balloons in our office. After our morning meeting Marlene was presented with a gift card and a 10 year Zoo Membership! Before ending her day she spent some time on a special behind the scenes visit with our Red Panda, Stellar, whom Marlene reported to be soft and cuddly (I am SO jealous!). Then we all met at Park Pub to celebrate this lovely woman over food and drink with friends old and new. I will miss her smile, her laugh, her dependable hugs and supportive words – especially her morning, “Hey gorgeous, how you doin’?” I ❤ you, Marlene!

Warning

by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.