I lost my friend this week. It still hasn’t quite set in. We were supposed to have lunch on Friday, like we do most weeks.
Ross and I met about two decades ago. I’m a building contractor, and he owned buildings. It started out pretty much an owner/client relationship in those initial years, providing a steady flow of jobs, and I appreciated the work. As a customer, he was the best, always complimentary of our work and ready to pay. We reciprocated by putting his jobs at the head of the line and taking that extra step to make sure he was pleased with the outcome.
Over time, our relationship grew closer. He was not fond of technology — emails, cell phones, etc. — so I would generally hand deliver his invoices, and we would talk. At some point, we decided to combine those business meetings with lunch. Then it was just meeting for lunch whether there was business to discuss or not. I would pay if I brought him invoices; he would pay if I didn’t — a sort of running joke.