Well...it really happened. After 44 years....Dad finally retired. His 'kind' is truly a dying breed. When he graduated in 1971 he had two women in his class (I'm not sure how many total people were in his class) and they pretty much never wanted to touch a small animal. He and his buddies were all about pigs, pigs, and more pigs...and maybe a few cattle sprinkled in there to keep it interesting. My childhood is filled with memories of going out to various farms to pull pigs. I used my many experiences with him on farm calls in my application essay to vet school. Our family of 4 would frequently pile into his pickup to go on calls with him and 'help' if needed. I'm sure I was quite the help! I worked cattle with him during my Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer breaks. My job was usually to 'pour' the cattle which meant I got to apply their topical insecticide. Occasionally, if the farm was short on help I was promoted to the front of the chute and was in charge of catching the cow's head in the chute. I don't think I let any go...but I'm sure I caught a few by the hips. There were a few times he would bring home a client's dog that was really sick and it would spend the night in our bathtub receiving IV fluids. As kids, we got spring lambs every year to bottle feed and on the really cold nights they were brought down into our basement instead of having to 'tough it out' in the garage. In my elementary days my favorite activity was to help him post pigs. I would hold open the baggies as he dropped in tissues to be sent off to the lab. When he was finished gathering his samples he would let me cut open the gall bladder and watch the bile run out. I loved opening up the stomach to see the last thing the pig had eaten.
Dad worked emergency his whole career...meaning he was always on call and was still pulling calves at 3 am if needed at age 69. I know there were a few dance recitals and wrestling meets he had to leave early from to go tend to an emergency. He always said he liked the work and he was one of the last of his friends from school who was actually still in private practice....many of them had sold their practices and turned to 'desk jobs' within the industry many years ago. Many of his classmates have had numerous health problems or suffered injuries due to the physical nature of the job and just couldn't take the wear and tear on their bodies anymore. I guess Dad has been lucky.
The ugliest years happened when I was in junior high. Dad's senior partner continued to use a government banned antibiotic to treat cattle. This particular medication could cause aplastic anemia in humans if not handled correctly. He was having the staff mix it without telling them what it was and not having them wear proper safety equipment in order to protect themselves. In order to not be labeled as a participant in this practice (and risk losing his veterinary license or worse going to jail) Dad was forced to turn him into the FDA. His partner did not cooperate with the FDA and was sent to trial. Dad had to testify against him. Since I was pretty young at the time I don't recall how long this all went on. But John was sent to jail and their business partnership was dissolved. Dad never wanted to be a sole practitioner. It was a very stressful time for my parents. But we all lived through it and came out on the other side.
I know he was proud (he actually cried on the phone!) the day I called to tell him I'd been accepted into vet school...and probably more proud (or relieved) the day I graduated. Vet school was no picnic for either one of us. My class of 100 was 70% women and most of the class never intended to touch a large animal....let alone a pig!
May 2004
I always wanted to be 'Dr. Mangold' (since 4th grade)...just like my Dad...although I'd never given much thought to working with him full time. I never wanted to live in Iowa when I was 'all grown up'. But life never goes exactly how you think it's going to end up....I got drug back to Iowa by my hair 5 years ago...ha!...and ended up working with him a couple days a week. Honestly, practicing in small town Iowa was like another world having practiced in Phoenix and Houston for 6 years....good in some ways, bad in others. Nathan and I briefly discussed buying his practice when he was ready to retire but logistically we just didn't see it being very realistic....especially if we wanted to have kids eventually.
It was fun working together while it lasted...we definitely didn't see eye to eye on a few 'issues'.
I'd like to say I taught him a few things...but he's definitely taught me more.
So here we are at an end of an era....an end of a career. A career that allowed my mom to stay at home and raise my brother and I. A career that paid for us to enjoy many extra curricular activities and a few vacations here and there. A career that paid for us to go to college. A career that actually allowed us to see our father work and not just disappear to an office everyday to sit behind a desk. A career that allowed us to experience the miracle of life and the tragedy of death....even though they may be 'just animals'.
Dad said he didn't want one...but we threw him a party anyway...two actually. The first was a more intimate dinner party at Cafe Dodici's with family, current clinic staff and his two most loyal past employees. It was a great evening.
The happy couple
Nancy, Al and Nathan
Gma Jean and Dr. Miller
Adam and Drs
Dawn and Sue presenting him with the staff gift
Opening up his 'booze'
Anita wrote him a great poem....
Terry,
It's time to retire
to step down, to relax
A new phase in life
That might include more naps.
You'll take a lot of memories
with you as you go
Let me provide you with some
Ready....here we go!
Coveralls were the attire
along with a stocking cap
And we can't forget the dogs-
among the favorites- Yip and Yap!!
How many times did we say
KNBM976 base to mobile 2??
And all the health and Pre-conditioning papers
that were soooo fun to do!
Your truck door was always open
It drove the public up the wall
Pulling calves in the spring
And working cattle in the fall.
The famous NFZ yellow powder
Cropping ears and docking a tail
Watching all our families grow
Supporting Iowa State without fail.
Oxy and I, AKS, Fortified Iron and Amoxi
Large and small animal patients, whether sick or well
Some had the scours, some had pinkeye
And some needed that wound dressing, Hydro Gel.
A new dog named Rocky
A new clinic designed and built
PRV, TGE, Rednose and Naxcel
Don't forget pulling pigs on gilts.
Saying goodbye to Randy
We had good times and bad
No snakes were allowed
'someone' wrote on post it note pads :)
Heartland, Dr. Hoefling
And Newport lab too
Always something to send
Don't forget Oxford, Nobl, and ISU
Apples, apples, apples
Your favorite munching snack
Don't forget the 'clean a mare' tray
And all those surgery packs.
We had stinky fly tags
Oxytocin and Pneumonia Med
X-rays and C-sections
And injuries that bled.
We had a lot of medicine
MMA, Sulfa and Tylan too
Don't forget Greasy Pig Med,
Baytril and Albon to name a few
You saw all kinds of animals
Pigs, cows, horses, dogs
Cats, goats, birds and bunnies
An iguana, but I don't recall any frogs.
And now you can sit back
and reminisce about all that you've done
The work, the time, the clients
The frustrations, the satisfaction and the fun.
Enjoy your retirement
Do whatever you choose to do
Just don't forget all your
Great memories and your Town and Country crew!
Taking it all in...
Mom saying a few words...
The 'old' T&C crew... Sue, Peg and Anita...Peg and Anita certainly could have served as his right and left arms!
The new 'head honcho' Dr. Miller and her husband Matt
Who knew Dad retiring would turn me into such a reflective sap? Adam said a few words about his career and Nathan even said a few words too....so then of course everyone turns to look at me. I felt like I was delivering his eulogy. Our voices all turned a bit shaky and a few tears were shed.
I wish I had been more prepared to speak.
Then on Sunday the public was able to say 'goodbye'. We had another party for the clients out at the Washington Country Club.
I was in charge of the cakes....
'We're happy to send you out to pasture...'
'Congratulations on your retirement, Doc!'
Viv came for about a half hour and then Nathan got tired of chasing and took her home.
A few pictures and plaques earned along the way...
Friends enjoying the memories...
Baileys...
Vet school classmates Howard Lindeman and Don Otto
Aunt Twila
Long time clients...The Berdos
So now there is more time for Dad to garden and 'farm'. He's the best babysitter and Lord knows we'll need him come February. I only hope that Nathan and I can set a similar work example for Vivian and Rowan as Dad has shown us over the last 44 years.
Enjoy your retirement Dad! You certainly deserve it!
