Goodbye everyone!
 

As some of you know, my ship date for the Navy is on July 18th. So... 16 more days to go!

I am an E2 in AEF/AECF (Advanced Electronics Field/ Advanced Electronics Computer Field), and will be up in Chicago for quite a while.

Things have been pretty hectic around here with moving the orchids. The Pleurothallids have been my largest concern. They should be housed at The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens while I am gone. The Paphiopedilum have also been my other priority, and will be moved to an undisclosed location. ;)

I have a few more orchids I'll post in bloom before I leave, including a couple Pleurothallids and one of my favorite Paphiopedilum species. I wish you all the best, and will hopefully have the collections going once again in a few years. :)

-Pat

Pat...I wish you the best :)
Learn all you can...stay safe...and be all you can be ;)

Sue

Hey Pat -
Good luck and stay safe. I hope that every place you are stationed has some native orchids for you to see! My Dad stayed in the Navy (reserves after active) for almost his entire life to keep flying their planes.
Not native, but the Chicago area has some enticing commercial greenhouses.
Regards - Nancy

Good luck Pat. My son went through Navy and it started at Chicago (Great Lakes) and I know the area well. Have a great time and learn a bunch. Your presence will be missed here. I personally looked forward to your wealth of knowledge. That should help you in other ways in the Navy.

God's speed to you Pat!
Thank you for serving our country and keep us all safe and able to sleep soundly at night :)
Hope you come back to OB soon!
You will be missed :)

So long buddy,
Glad I never have to go anywhere near Chicago.
I certainly hope Selby treats those plants well!

Take good care of yourself and please stay safe. You will be missed here :(
My best wishes to you Pat :D

Pat,

Thank you for your service to this country. It is people like you that allow us to sleep at night.

Take care and stay safe. We'll be waiting for your return.

pat good luck your knowledge will surely be missed here. my stepson graduated from chicago last feb. and is now on his way to australia on the USS Milius (DDG-69). i think you will like chicago i know he did. good luck in your future