My Lunch With Bob...

I got the call as I headed home on the bus. “What you doing tomorrow?” Bob asked.

“As of now, no plans.”

“I’d like to take you out for a post-birthday lunch. You up for that?”

“Are you kidding? Always!” I said, my first thought being I wouldn’t need to pack leftovers as I rode the bus to work the next morning.

“See you then!”

And the call ended. Lunch…the next day. Good stuff!

I work in downtown Salt Lake City, but I’m not really a “downtown worker.” To me, working “downtown” means being close to the action, power meetings and power lunches.

Basically, something I never do.

I conclude most of this inactivity with the “movers and shakers” in the city is due to my employer. I’m a state employee—one that lacks connections. Well, I have connections, but I’m not the one to contact to secure state contracts or other payday results. Nope—I’m just your basic civil servant.

So getting invited to lunch is a rare event and I was grateful for the opportunity. Bob and I have known each other for decades. A few years ago I worked P/T for his financial planning business. It was fascinating to work four days a week for the state then one day a week for a private enterprise. If you don’t know, there’s a huge difference in how these organizations work. That’s all I’m going to say here.

We chatted, discussed finances, caught up on work, families, the Utes…you know, the important stuff. Then it was over and we both returned to our very different jobs. We grew up in the same small(ish) town, attended the same schools from elementary all the way through college and now pursue different interests. Yet, for an hour in a SLC bakery we were able to talk and enjoy each other’s company as if all those differences didn’t exist at all. Thanks for lunch, Bob! We should do it more often.