Sometimes You Learn More About Your Significant Others from Other People!
Even when you’ve been married for 30+ years, sometimes you learn something about your significant other when you least expect it.
My husband Rob will be retiring on Dec 30th, and his staff hosted his retirement party on Friday. As he received COMMENDATIONS from the Board of Supervisors for creating and implementing environmental programs throughout the County. Jaclyn and I both glanced at each other with astonishment. She leaned over to me and asked, “Did you know all of this?”
While we knew that he founded the California Product Stewardship Council, a nonprofit organization, and that he pulled together 15 cities and the County to cooperate on initiatives, we didn’t know the battles he fought to make it all happen. Neither Jaclyn nor I understood the magnitude of his accomplishments until we stood there with his colleagues and heard their fascinating stories.
The story I loved hearing the most was from his grad school professor, Bruce Olszewski. First, he teased Rob because he always sat up front and enthusiastically raised his hand – like an over achiever in grade school – even though Bruce never called on him. Then, Bruce admitted that most people and even professors are good at giving lip service but when it comes down to initiating and implementing change, Rob is one of the few people to actually do the things that professors talk about in class.
As the guests shared their stories about Rob’s no-holds-barred approach to changing environmental policies in California, I realized that they were really sincere in their appreciation for his leadership when they presented a commendation from the Board of Supervisors for his service and prepared a resolution to the Board of Supervisors to ask that Rob be granted a special provision to work as a consultant immediately after he retires.
Jaclyn and I were so proud to see how his innovative solutions to environmental problems were so appreciated by his colleagues, city officials, the Board of Supervisors, and his staff. It’s amazing to see that you never stop learning about your significant other… Looking forward to what his next chapter will bring!