Tuesday, May 24, 2016
This weekend I lost my person. He was my boss, mentor, lunch date, business partner, office-mate, confidant, and most of all, my friend - best friend. We shared an office in his home and spoke every day. We were a team. I have an enormous gap in my heart right now. He was an innovative risk-taker and gave people the confidence to accomplish anything. His gambles were nerve-racking but he was not afraid to fail. I gained a lifetime of knowledge in the 8 years I was fortunate enough to know Dean. He was casual and trusting then out of nowhere hit you with precision to get the job done. I watched with intrigue. I never turned down a challenge he presented because I knew he believed in me. Though, he said I rarely did any work, just ate food from the pantry and looked busy. Then he handed over his business (in a box) with no instruction. We never talked about that again. I figured it out just has he knew I would. He gave me the tools and freedom to grow and make decisions, then, without even realizing, I was doing it on my own. He trusted me. I have become so many things because of Dean. He was so frustrating but magnetic. He embarrassed me more times in public than I could begin to list. His words could both silence and brighten a room in one conversation. You will never forget him. He made new friends most every day of his life. He has people all over the country - and it was true, he always knew a guy who could do anything we needed. He was generous and thoughtful and there when you needed him - always. You could count on him. He taught me so well, passed the torch, and knew with confidence that I could figure it out and be successful. It is not that I can't do it without him, it is that I really don't want to. I miss him so terribly.
