This book is finished

This book is finished. The last page completed. The last paragraph inked, all "ts" crossed and all "is" dotted. Done.

I cannot, in all good sense, call it a chapter. Something that has taken 20 years to write deserves to be much more than a chapter, it deserves to be a book. Besides, who would read a chapter that long? Not me; I hate long chapters. Give me a stopping point every few pages, I say.

Today, I penned the last line of my career at Dominion Energy, the place I still, too often, refer as SCANA. Here are the words I shared in my almost-mandatory, sent from the heart, email message; I share this to reach all those that retired ahead of me and those I know I did not include in that electronic blast of memory-laden electrons.

Dear colleagues and friends:

Today is my last day at Dominion Energy. It is hard to believe that 20 years have gone so quickly.

My contact information is [Ed:email address removed] and cell phone remains [Ed.: phone number removed]. I am on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

I began working at SCANA as a contractor in August 1998; I was employed by Vanstar, which then merged with Inacom in 1999, and went bankrupt in 2000. I was hired by SCANA in July 2000.

During the last 20+ years while at SCANA/Dominion Energy, I got married; went through the incredible Y2K (yawn!); had two incredible kids; went through bankruptcy (thanks Inacom!); learned that my wife had cancer; fought the darn disease with her for three dark, incredibly painful years; experienced the death of my wife and then my mom; and lived life with my kids for 13 years as they became adults. I am now watching them leave home to attend university.

Along these two decades we have shared many experiences. Some of you saw me go through, and some helped me with, the darkest three years of my life as I tried to help Tracey with all that comes with a cancer diagnosis, and helped my kids deal first with all the surgeries and procedures she endured, and then her loss and our new reality without her. I am eternally grateful to those that stood by us, offering everything from a kind word to hours of companionship in hospital waiting rooms.

Over the years I moved from Workstation Support to Staging (now ABARS), to software development, to Cyber Security. Along the way I had the honor of interacting with many of you and with many that have already retired. It has been a great experience.

I wish each of you well. As with anything worth doing, there will be challenges and successes. In keeping with the family spirit that we experienced here throughout the years, please continue to be kind and supportive to each other, knowing that your kindness makes a huge difference to those that receive it.

May there always be light where you are. May the brightest light come from your heart.