That Old Gang of Mine

The really OLD song says that wedding bells are breaking up that old gang of mine. Of course, I know the song from my forebears - it has nothing to do with MY age. Experience has demonstrated to me that we often change things every ten or twelve years. I've been in my present job for 11 years. And today I said abientot to the last of my lunch buddies and colleagues who, in a sense, would constitute that old gang of mine. There is still one who works in my building, but is actually a federal employee. When I came to the Department of Labor, on my very first day on the job, I was invited to have lunch with this one group of women - actually five women and me - I became the rooster in the hen house. It was a good move and became a regular part of my work day when I was in the office, not traveling. And I was honored and proud that I my innate radar seemed to have led me to automatically gravitate to people who were bright, competent, hard-working, socially adept, and artistically educated and curious. We had many fine lunch conversations and often ordered Chinese carry-out, which was always fun. Our Chinese carry-out and our regular lunches faded as people left the group. But the last one to leave was the one with whom I collaborated most often. So today for the second time in two months, I played host to a gathering to honor a retiree. Both of these last two retirees gave 30 years to the state of Maryland - a feat that is absolutely incomprehensible to me. So while it may not be wedding bells that are breaking up that old gang of mine for lunch at work, there are plenty of substitutes to blame: old age, considerable experience, new horizons, new adventures, health, history, politics - and that last is the most insidious. Shopping for food and gifts was exhausting. I don't shop much any more other than in the grocery store. Anything else gets ordered online. But I was able to spend some money getting the supplies for the party. Fortunately, there are some wonderful colleagues in my office who can set a beautiful table. I got some help wrapping presents too. Cake and Conversation with Kathy was a nice affair, but quite sad for me. Again, maybe it's age, but I'm having difficulty seeing how I will turn this around to feeling positive at work. And since it was Friday, it was my day to sing,
I'm so glad we had this time together,
Just to have a laugh or sing a song.
Seems we just get started and before we know it,
Comes the time we have to say, " So long."
Abientot.