I’ll be toasting a good friend tonight, who will be retiring after twenty years with the company. I’m her boss, but we’re closer than that. She’s a wonderful, funny, caring person, and I (who am seldom sad about anything) have been anticipatorily mourning her absence for some time now.
I want to give a meaningful toast (with only kind-hearted roasting; not a “rolling toward death” thing) and am looking for ideas. Sure, I realize you folks don’t know her – but perhaps someone has a snippet they’ve heard said at a retirement party, or has something they said themselves, that they could share?
Thanks!
http://www.retirement-letter-advisor.com/retirementtoast.html
There are more, if you want them.
It seems to me you covered just about everything in the OP.
“Tonight I’m toasting a good friend who is retiring after 20 years service to this company. While I am technically her boss, I am also her friend. She’s a wonderful, funny, caring person, and I will miss her greatly. [Insert name here], I’ve very much enjoyed working with you, but more importantly, I’ve very much enjoyed your friendship. Everyone, please join me in wishing [Insert name here] the very best.”
Laughing – thank you! Okay, I’ll go the natural route…
Old friends are the best friends. A toast to a dear friend.