My boss' farewell lunch was today. It was well attended and even though he hates ceremony I think he enjoyed himself. We gave him the State of NH carved out of granite (because we're "the Granite State") with the State seal on it. I made some speech about how not only is he leaving a void but we should focus on the things he built and how those things are here in all of us and to remind him of how significant that it is we got a really heavy gift. I don't know, I made it up on the spot. I do my best work on the fly. But it was nice because some of the hospitals were there and I was glad they could see that I am not just the Robin to my boss' Batman. And my answer to the question "What are you going do without him?" Has now been replaced with my answer to "Are you going to apply for his job?" I've shortened it to about a minute. I've picked his brain as much as I can for now. And I'm a little in denial about how much more responsibility I am taking on until they fill his position and probably for some time after. I also plan on calling him tons and I've talked to his new company about giving me unlimited consulting with him in order for me to let them have him. In short I think it is actually a good time for this to happen because the holidays keep me from dwelling on it too much.