The Day Has Come...

Today, after 22 years of relentless toil, I retire from my post at NigeCorp. In keeping with these straitened times, celebrations at HQ will be on a relatively modest scale. The traditional workers' ceremonial marchpast through the gleaming turbine halls will take place without the usual musical accompaniment, the NigeCorp silver band having been stood down. Later, however, NigeCorp's newly formed period instrument ensemble will entertain us, joined by the massed choirs in a range of suitable celebratory odes. Sound the trumpet, strike the lyre, touch the lute, awake the harp, inspire the flute, and while you're about it, see what you can do with the sprightly hautboy... The NigeCorp Bard will don the chiton and bays and declaim a specially composed Pindaric ode, and the workers will respectfully seat themselves for the farewell banquet, limited on this occasion to six course and 12 toasts. After the last of these, I shall deliver my valedictory speech and make my way, with a select group of grateful workers, to the rooftop helipad, where a lone piper will play a fitting lament as I board the NigeCorp executive chopper one last time...
  Meanwhile, back in this universe, I am indeed retiring today from the job I've had for the past 22 years - but only from the job. Life itself will continue - or rather resume - and among the many things I intend to spend more time with is this blog.