I went to dinner in NY with David and Kris tonight.  I cried on the bus on the way home.

When I met David and Kris, they were young men at the beginning of their careers.  I”ve known David 13 of the 14 years I worked at the firm.  Kris — oh, only 11 years.  In that time, they married.  Became fathers.  Grew to be professionals, subject matter experts.  People I admire.

Tonight, we laughed.  We walked down memory lane, recalling crazy people we hired, complex problems we solved together, and most importantly….moments when we were in the “hot seat together” and would not have had it any other way.

I recalled the Decembers when David brought his children to work.  Abbi, Emmi, Anni and DJ.  (and baby Stella).  I told David how much I LOVED taking them to make hot chocolate in the pantry.  He said…“they STILL talk about it” .  (Oh, my heart just ached).   Then one by one, I took them to the conference room, so they could read me the stories they wrote for me.   And how we ended the day with them drawing l.o.v.e.l.y. messages on my white board.  The BEST work that was done on that board all year.

We ended tonight outside Port Authority, where we parted company.  The hugs….did not last long enough.  Letting go felt…..difficult.  I told them, “don’t you DARE say good-bye”.  We laughed, in an uncomfortable way, knowing that….tomorrow,…would be different.  Not worse.  Just different.

I walked to my bus, boarded, took my seat, and let the tears come.

Change.   It hurts sometimes.  Tonight was one of those times.

I miss these wonderful men already.  Nothing is going to change that.  So I remind myself — we are only 10 digits away at any time.

I love you both and no amount of time or distance is going to change that.  Thank you for tonight, even though it hurt a little.  I chalk that up to the importance of your presence in my life.  It would not hurt….if it did not mean so much.  #100happydays (82/100)

Ciao for now…..Diane