AMIE Custodian Team Leader Eddie Washington didn’t stress when it came time to choose the destination for his 10-year Trip of a Lifetime.
“I just let my wife pick,” he said.
The only stipulation was that they go to at least one place, preferably an island, that they hadn’t previously visited.
They’d gone to Jamaica for Eddie’s five-year Trip of a Lifetime, so that ruled out one destination.
“We’ve done cruises before,” Eddie said, “and we’ve always enjoyed those.”
So, Eddie’s wife chose a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise with stops in Belize, Mexico and Honduras’ Bay Islands.
“We enjoyed sightseeing at each stop and eating local foods, but the most memorable thing that happened was when we were getting off the ship in Costa Maya, I looked up and saw [QC Senior Inspector] Ken Wong.”
Despite the fact that Ken also celebrated 10 years with Arthrex this year, he and his wife, Suture Assembly Operator III Cindy Wong-Phung, were enjoying her Trip of a Lifetime – celebrating five years of service with their own Caribbean cruise.
“Ken and I went through orientation together,” Eddie said, “and then we randomly ran into each other in Mexico while taking our Arthrex trips. That’s something I will always remember.”
“I didn’t know when Eddie was taking his Trip of a Lifetime, or where he was going,” Ken said. “Then all of a sudden we were standing face-to-face.”
“Now Ken and I tell everyone that story,” Eddie said.
Ken hasn’t yet booked his 10-year trip but is hoping to visit relatives in Hong Kong and Australia. Meanwhile, Eddie is already thinking about his 15-year trip, when he and his wife plan to take an Alaskan cruise.
“Working at Arthrex has really changed my life, being a part of something great and the wonderful opportunities here,” said Eddie. “Thank you to Arthrex for making people’s dreams come true and giving us life experiences that we can share.”
For every five years of employment with Arthrex, employees are eligible for a company-paid Trip of a Lifetime to recognize their dedication. Look for more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on the Arthrex Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.