Friday, November 01, 2013

What Is Retiree Suzanne Theriault Doing Now?

Suzaanne Theriault was with JPL for 34 1/2 years and managed several branches.  She retired as a Senior Librarian/Branch Manager at Bradham Brooks Northwest Branch in 2009. Suzanne says she misses the direct service to customers, working with children, and our staff.  

Suzanne's "logo" was--and remains, as you see in this photo of her and a freind, Lee--always a beautiful flower in her hair.

RETIREMENT (thus far)
By Suzzane Theriault

Retirement seemed to come at the right time since shortly after the big day my apartment ceiling caved in.  Management offered me a sweet deal on the new lease: no rent increase.  Falling plaster, wet walls and green, blue, and black mold were mine for free. Such generosity! No thanks.

Except for the moving part, things were looking up.  I ended up in a place on Butcher Penn Creek.  Surrounded by trees dripping in Spanish moss, it looks like a scene from Florida’s past.  Blanding Boulevard is down the street, but you’d never know it from the view off my private balcony.

Canadian geese, great blue herons, egrets and pink spoonbills come and go all day while at night I’m serenaded by the most melodious frogs in existence, at least during mating season.  I was as excited as a person who’d never seen a bird or heard a frog before.  That was because I actually never saw a bird or even a tadpole before.  But, the best visitors are the swimming kind.  I’ve seen manatees, nutrias, and things I can’t quite describe.  This place is truly alligator alley.

Besides one great egret, the only other permanent resident was Wilbur, a four-foot baby alligator who always had a little turtle trailing him from behind.  Wilbur’s right eye was missing and his left leg was only a stump.  I would describe him as both gruesome and fascinating.

When my neighbor (who was feeding him) moved away, Wilbur also moved on.  But every now and then he stops by to say hi, or to see if there’s a tasty dog or cat around.  Here kitty, kitty. 


No comments: