Hold On, Don’t Let Go

Today I went on a five mile hike, followed by lunch, with two former co-workers who I have remained friends with for about twenty five years. We last worked together in the mid ’90s. We worked in Human Resources together for several years and we were the best damn HR department east of the Mississippi! Lucy, Stacey, and I went our separate ways in the late ’90s, but have gotten together at least once a year since then. What makes that happen? Why that connection?

Part of that connection is the crucible of work. You spend more waking hours with your co-workers that you do your own families. If your work is extremely stressful, which ours was, that makes the connection stronger. If you had a boss that wasn’t always on the same page as the rest of you, that can lead to a stronger alliance. We had that, a common “enemy” if you will. There is also the need to work together as a team, a camaraderie that was designed but grew into a natural coalition.

I always wonder about other workplace situations and if the same things happen there. For example, does the cast of Seinfeld get together regularly? How about an NBA championship team from thirty years ago? The attorneys, and their staff, who prosecuted OJ? The important players from the original cast of Breaking Bad?

How about places you have worked over the years? People come and go in a work setting. Have you kept friends long after they have gone or you have gone? Do you get together occasionally to catch up and reminisce? This sounds weird, coming from introvert me, but we probably should do more of that.

So Lucy and Stacey and I have seen each other through births and deaths and marriages and divorces. Our careers have veered in different directions. Lucy is retired. I am semi-retired. Stacey is still doing the HR thing. But some connection was forged back in the ’90s, in a business park in Bethlehem, in the southwest corner of a building overlooking Route 22. I hope you have found those connections in your work life as well.

Next spring we will be meeting again. If our collective health holds, maybe another five mile hike! Time goes so fast. We need to treasure our friendships. All we have in life, for certain, is what we have right now.