SENDOFF FOR A SECFORAF

As you may have heard in the news, our Diplo-Elvis was leaving the building. Now, I never got to work that closely with this boss, and I was posted abroad when Pardek said his goodbyes to the Department years ago, so I had no sense of what the last day at work of a Secretary might be like.

Turns out, pretty cool.  

While work-as-usual continued throughout the day, the different offices found time to drop by the guest of honor's room and leave some going-away presents. My office gave a fine, stone-inlaid case hand-crafted by Visayan artisans.  Really tasteful and classy.

So much so, you know I had nothing to do with it

At the end of the work day, everyone headed down to the auditorium for a final gala of testimonials, videos, musical numbers and other senior official performances

When we say we'll have singing ambassadors, we'll have SINGING AMBASSADORS

And keeping it hip, everything ended with some epic groufies

Can you spot the pandork in this picture?

Then people just found themselves lining the long, last walk to the main doors. Smiles, cheers, tears, hugs, handshakes (even a slow-clap!) all the way out.   A couple of senior officers and I may or may not have also been loudly humming the Battle of Yavin Medal Ceremony theme.

And of course, for the final "Riding off into the Sunset" moment, 
some lens flare

God speed, and thanks for the memories.