Mike has made the move to his new home in Oregon, and will be working at the new building up there. Of course his move has been in the works for some time, but even so his last day seems to have come upon us really quickly, and I was unprepared for the emptiness he left behind.

Mike plays it somewhat close to the vest. His nature is to keep a low-profile, and although he has an amazing ability to allow people to feel at ease in his company, I think he's still a bit enigmatic to some. Inexplicably, really. In the past few years, he has grown from my boss into so much more. As a mentor, he has offered me insight into how a true professional handles things. So often I have marveled at his tact and wisdom. In situations where I would tend to freak out or become irate, he sees right through and is somehow able to help others do the same, deftly, honestly, steering the focus to real solutions. It's quite remarkable, and I've been learning so much.

It's a two-way street. I believe he also gets a lot from me and my geeky, enthusiastic, pragmatic/idealistic nature. I think we complement each other very well, each of us gaining much from the efforts of the other.

It was with a very heavy heart that I said goodbye to him on Friday. Although we'll continue to work together, and we'll meet a couple of times a month, clearly it won't be the same as sharing an office. Over the past three years, I have gained a friend, and I will miss his presence very much.