“Well Ricky boy it’s hard to believe we have lived long enough to retire!

Just 33 years ago when our paths first crossed at SDM who would ever thought we would still be buddies all these years later. We started out on a love hate basis and clashed on a bunch of issues for sure. You were just so hard headed.

While most figured we would both go down in a blaze of glory defending our points of view we resolved it all on just one little road trip. I, like you, remember it vividly and know in our hearts that it was our TSN turning point to a long and lasting friendship.

What followed was a relationship at work and play, that  most including Monique and Sandra, would classify as an odd couple scenario. In my mind it was just that I convinced you that, I was right way more-of the time than you would ever admit to.

There were a few years after I left SDM that we did not see much of each other but as it turned out, fate was lurking just around the corner.

After the Eagle landed and the big shake up at SDM happened, you moved onto Medis and you called me to see If I could help on a little six month project. You and Dale Weil felt there was an opportunity to find new solutions that the smart folks up along had not come up with and the challenge was on.

Well six months turned into 13 years and a whole bunch of various initiatives kept us working and playing together.

Wether it was McKesson Pharma, Hospital or Banner Groups we were blessed with some great leaders including Nick,Alain and Paula that understood us and gave us flexibility to do new things. There was one asshole in there after Dale but we won’t mention him.

How many times did we solves world issues during our many evenings at Ricks Café even before it was there.

On a very personal note I can still remember our discussions about family and what children would mean for you and Monique. Could you ever imagine not having baby Jessica and then Bucko? Game changers for sure!

Both of us were lucky to have one mutual friend in John MacIntyre that has toughed it out with both of us over the years, plus a bunch of other rowdies that got us in trouble more than once.

Who would ever have guessed that the “ Young Lions” would turn into the old foggies! You can explain that one if anyone cares to asks.

Now that we are both retired maybe we can find more time just to chill and enjoy what comes our way.

While I am not with you in person tonight you can rest assured I am thinking of you and Monique as the evening winds down and hope that you don’t have to pay the bill or it means a trip back there tomorrow to get your credit card back. Old habits are hard to break.

Looking forward to seeing you later in the summer once we are back from Boston where we are off to in the morning.

Enjoy tonight and the accolades that come your way.

Dan

Ps, I was thinking of a video but did not think I could do it without shedding tears.”