Going away party

For three days I've been holding the secret. For three days I've known that the people at his work were organizing a surprise going away party for Brian. And for three days it's all I think about when I look at him.

Yes, part of it is the secret. Brian and I just don't keep secrets, even good ones. We share everything and have troubles even saving gifts for one another. So for me to hold onto this for three days was agony for me.

The other part of it is the reality of it all. It hit me today while Brian and I were hanging out on the couch together - this is it. Tomorrow he's no longer a Deputy Sheriff. Monday he starts a new chapter of life. Something that we've hoped and worked towards for the last year is finally happening and it seems surreal. It's just such a huge change and it's almost unbelievable that it's finally happening.

The party itself went great. The kids were supposed to pop out of the closet and say "surprise" but they just sort of sauntered out and gave him a hug instead. Several co-workers came in on their day off or stayed 1 or 2 hours after getting off a 12 hour shift just to wish him luck and tell him how much they would miss him. We filled ourselves with pizza, cream puffs and fudge. They gave him this wonderful cake (it was SOOO yummy with super sweet frosting -- my fave!) poking a little fun at his new department.

But more than anything this party succeeded in making Brian feel important. He will go away from the Sheriffs Department knowing that he did his job, he did it well, and he made friends who will miss him when he's gone.