FYI

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	tlshelton@aep.com@ENRON [mailto:IMCEANOTES-tlshelton+40aep+2Ecom+40ENRON@ENRON.com] 
Sent:	Thursday, September 27, 2001 5:25 PM
To:	rjspclaw@earthlink.net; jrs30@flash.net; dakota@applink.net; debby_ferril@datacard.com; kavanaugh@firstsw.com; gorloff@bracepatt.com; george_c_hepburn@reliantenergy.com; james_g_beste@reliantenergy.com; larry_gunn@reliantenergy.com; ataylor@bracepatt.com; wed@ctw.com; jpg@ctw.com; jem@ctw.com; drr@ctw.com; jpsale@southernco.com; pplunket@txu.com; george_schalles@reliantenergy.com; tom.stephens@atmosenergy.com; jim.tramuto@elpaso.com; ralsup@ssd.com; marcy.collins@elpaso.com; Van Hooser, Steve; jlabauve@utilicorp.com; cyarbrol@txu.com; trisha_pollard@kindermorgan.com; tom_a_gay@compuserve.com; jhartrick@houston.rr.com; alvin.suggs@elpaso.com; jmoeller@worsham.net; natgasassn@yahoo.com; jimw@hngs.com; hazzie@gvtc.com; grosenbaum@velaw.com; mcclenlaw@aol.com; Kyle, Candace; Harris, Stephanie J; Derrick Jr., James; Rogers, Rex; Cheek, Charles; Gray, Barbara N.; Hermann, Robert; Labanowski, Elizabeth; allen2@enron.com; ledwards@lemle.com; abaird@lemle.com; ddunlap@jw.com; david.l.balderach@marshmc.com; c_p_a_@msn.com; tbliewer@aol.com; robinestcs@cs.com; randy.bevis@cinergy.com; cpatman@bracepatt.com; cgunter@bracepatt.com; nutter@palmertx.com; badams11@palmertx.com; kitsharp@aol.com; mbsmarshall@aol.com; fwallis@bcm.tmc.edu; judy@houston.rr.com
Subject:	Taking it to the house


To my friends and colleagues: 
        After 27+ years with Houston Pipe Line Company (under the successive ownership of HNG, InterNorth, Enron, and now AEP), I've decided to try something different.  As of September 30, I will no longer be getting up and driving downtown to work every day.  Much has happened in 2001, on personal, family, professional, national, and global levels, which has induced me to act on my inclination to retire (I've been thinking about it ever since I got that solicitation from AARP).  There is much that I will miss (daily camaraderie with co-workers and colleagues, challenging work, interesting projects, a paycheck), but there are other things that I can do without (rush hour traffic, cumbersome regulations, long hours, irreconcilable conflicts, office politics, tedious paperwork, seemingly endless meetings, payroll deductions).  On balance, it looks like a fair trade. 
        I have enjoyed the very good fortune of having a challenging and satisfying career, and of having been able to do so in the company of many wonderful people.  I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your friendship and support over the years, for contributing to my never-ending education, and for being a valued part of my experiences and memories.  There have been a lot of good times, and some less good times, but I wouldn't want to start all over again and see how it turns out next time around.  I am enormously grateful for all of my many blessings, and hopefully the same is true for you.   
        My general plan for right now is to contemplate the future and my place in it, which sound pretty good to me -- both the process of contemplation as well as the future itself.  I do intend to find some arguably productive and/or fun ways to spend my new otherwise idle time, and finding out what those may be should be half the fun.  Perhaps the biggest concern is how long Linda will be able to tolerate my not getting up and leaving the house every weekday morning, but she's at the church a lot of the time anyway.  I'm sure the boys are wondering how my being around the house more will affect their tranquility and privacy, and that remains to be seen, although I doubt that I'll be hanging out with them and their friends very much anyway. 
        One of my specific resolutions as we go forward is to do a better job of keeping up with friends.  The wonders of e-mail will facilitate that endeavor, but I will also be available in person for lunches, happy hours, tee times, dinners, movies, and other consultations. I already know where to find you; reciprocally, my contact information will now be tsheltont@aol.com; 3507 Plumb, Houston, TX 77005; phone 713-665-5315; and fax 713-665-7410.  As time goes on, I may self-indulgently send e-mail updates; if you consider them "spam," you know where the "Delete" button is. 
        Linda and I will be out of town on a trip to New England next week, but when we return I will commence a substantially different way of life.  I am eagerly anticipating whatever the future may hold.  Like most people, I'm anxious to spend more time with my family (they may be a little anxious about that, too).  Myriads of exciting new opportunities and challenges undoubtedly await, and I'm looking forward to discovering and pursuing many of them.  The list of things I want or need to do is already quite long, and will likely grow even faster than I can check things off the list. 
        As for the very immediate future, I'm going to click on "Send," pick up my briefcase, and head for the elevator.  We have to get ready to go to Brian's volleyball tournament in Dallas tomorrow.  So long for now, best wishes, and see ya around.