| Hey, Lu, It's nice to receive appreciation - especially when it's deserved. You respect, appreciate and have affection for your co-workers. Most likely they feel the same way about you. I hope that you won't look forward to and go to the gathering with apprehension, fear, or worry: my Grandma, who died over 50 years ago, used to say, "Don't cross bridges till you get there". But I think that message is not relevant here - for this isn't a bridge that you need to fear crossing, even when you get there. I hope that you'll look forward to it with anticipation and expectation of having a great old time - one that you can remember for years. No doubt they'll have a skit about some funny or silly thing that happened during your years together. There'll be some laughing, maybe some singing. So much of our relationship at work is serious and busy, that it's really great to deal with our friends made there, that we've spent so many years with, on another level, a social level, where we can let our hair down and have some fun, with no worries or deadlines. A great stress-reliever is laughter (not directed at someone). Just think how much stress-relief there'll be for your pals during the celebration. There's some self-interest on the part of the other celebrants, as well - they can think, "One of these days - I'll be in her shoes, sitting in that chair, ready to enjoy retirement!" I think that sometimes our worry about being the centre of attention is because we are shy, or fearful that we'll be embarrassed by saying or doing something wrong. No fear of that in a celebration like this - everyone's looking forward to having a really happy, fun-filled time. Be gracious, courteous, thank folks for gifts that you may receive - and enjoy. What's so terrible about that? Tell each one during the course of the evening some specific thing that you remember about them that you've appreciated, if you can. Good wishes to you and all of your friends at work, joyful guy/Ed | 
