A letter to someone who will never read it

To my friend,

Sorry it’s taken me so long to write this letter. You know how life gets. There always seems to be more stuff to do than I have time to do it, and lately it feels like I haven’t actually done anything but be busy. But that’s really just an excuse. When things are important, you make time. That’s partly what this letter is: me making time to send you off properly. I didn’t write it before you left, but hopefully it will be there when you arrive.

So this is it, I guess. You’re off to parts unknown. I wish I would have had a chance to say goodbye in person. Maybe this is better. It would have been awkward face to face. After all, what do you say at a time like this? It was nice knowing you? I hope your new neighbors will be nice? I wish you Godspeed on your journey? Nothing fits properly.

You’ll be missed around here. It’s important to me that you know that. When I first started working with you, I didn’t know the first thing about working as an engineer in a machine shop. But I watched, and I learned. I learned more than just repair techniques and manufacturing methods. I learned how to slow down long enough to see the whole problem, that the person doing the work is often more important than what the work is, that the smart engineers know when to ask for help, and that just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. After all, we get paid to make miracles happen.

If that were the extent of it, if all you were was a teacher, then your leaving would be a loss for the company. But you were more than just a co-worker. You were a friend and a mentor. You told stories with such energy and passion that it was hard not to be interested. You always had a different way of looking at things. Sometimes it was good. Sometimes it wasn’t. But it was always interesting. The office was a more dynamic place with you storming around it.

You see? I told you this would be awkward if we did this in person. This way you don’t have to mumble about how I’m making too big a deal about things. You just have to sit there and read the letter. Feel free to disagree as much as you like. You won’t hurt my feelings.

With that, I’ve said what I wanted to say. It was nice knowing you. I hope your new neighbors are nice. I wish you Godspeed on your journey.

[Author's note: My friend died at 10:30 this morning from lung cancer. May he find the gates of heaven open to welcome him home. May the love and good wishes of his friends and family meet him there. He will be missed.]