Walking out in peace (dear Roy)

My friend Roy retired today, after 29 years of working at my company...and as he turns 65 tomorrow. He posted on Facebook a few minutes ago:

walking in peace

into a new moment

always a miracle

just breathing in

just breathing out

love smiles

I first met Roy back in 1996--when I was just 31--shortly before I got pregnant with Christopher. I had just taken on a huge new job as publications manager of our newly expanded Northwest region, and one of my first tasks was to lay off three people in Roy's group. It was not an easy start to our working relationship...I was not a popular person in Seattle! But Roy has a huge heart and gave me a chance anyway.

Through earlier years of working together (see if you can find Chris in this collage!)

Roy's portrait of Chris, 2015

Roy has known Chris since his birth, and he's made two drawings of him--one as a baby and one this year for his graduation. He worked with me for several years as the Seattle graphics lead, and carrying the stress of being a manager in a high-pressure environment took the toll on his body. After he had a couple of strokes and heart attacks partly brought on by stress from his relentless commitment to client service, he turned his life and his health around. He teaches yoga, has become a Benedictine oblate (I call him my "Zen Catholic friend"), is a published author and committed dad and husband, and has developed a practice of visiting Starbucks and making portraits of people he sees.

Teaching yoga at my church, painting with the sustainability team,
and having brunch with Roy on Labor Day

Roy brings the fun--he's always my first choice for any kind of brainstorming, and he specializes in making people look brilliant. In recent years I've had the joy of working with Roy on our sustainability communications team, creating lively communications that move people to care for our planet. As part of this team, he's worked with and tried to keep up with many strong, fast-talking, and opinionated women (in addition to me) who send him in all sorts of different directions! 

I remember many years ago when he had to have surgery, he told his wife goodbye before going under the anesthetic....just in case he didn't wake up. He said he was ready to die because he was at peace. I've never forgotten that stunning statement. That's the way he lives his life. Shouldn't we all live that way?

Roy has deeply influenced my life as a spirit friend, artist-inspirer, and constant cheerleader. He's touched so many lives through his yoga, artistic expression, and spiritual inspiration, and he is an amazing soul. His goal in retirement is to use up his art supplies and write two more books!

A Starbucks painting

Beautiful lettering

I already miss working with him...he's just one more long-time close colleague who has migrated to the pleasant retirement shores. Thank goodness for social media, though, as he maintains an artistic Facebook page full of paintings, letterings, and beautiful words to go with his art...and I hope to collaborate with him on a future project, if he can fit me in!

Happy birthday and happy retirement, Roy! As another coworker said, you have changed my life for the better. I'm sure your retirement will be just as rich--if not richer--than your 29 years working for the world's greatest consulting engineering firm.

Here's a video our sustainability team put together for Roy, to go with his retirement book: