second time around

I was working at Gillette, now over 30 years ago. I went to a Promotional Seminar and met  Jill. She was a brand manager for Campbell's Soup. We were in the the same breakout group, and got along well. We said we'd stay in touch but life got busy and we didn't. About nine years later, around 1990, Jill called me. She had moved to New York and was job-hunting.  I was at CBS. Jill ended up becoming my colleague and one of my closest friends. The latter she still is.

Meredith and I worked together in 1985; I was a brand manager at Lever Brothers and she was the senior producer I worked with from Jack Morton Productions. We weren't friends, just business associates. Our relationship began and ended with the introduction of Extra Strength Aim — the toothpaste that was going to revolutionize the world, but didn't. Meredith moved to Minneapolis and then back to New York. Around 1994 she called and suggested getting together. We've been close friends ever since. 

Gail was my first boss at Gillette. I left in 1984 and moved to New York. Then, in 2011, we discovered through LinkedIn that we both live in NYC. We had dinner, and now see and speak to each other all the time.  It's hard to imagine a time when Gail was absent from my life.

Sometimes great friendships evolve after a second chance with the same person.

I moved to New York in 1985, and was job-hunting a few years later. At the time, there was only one professional recruiter in the entertainment field. Susan owned her own company and was the IT girl for all executive jobs in film, television, or any related field. If you were in entertainment, you knew Susan.

We became Facebook friends a few years ago, and then started playing Words With Friends. Our communication was little more than great play!  Then a few months ago, Susan wrote to tell me that she is also a member of BAFTA and saw me presenting at a screening. Today we meet for coffee. It must be at least 20 years since I last saw Susan. Then, we were both in suits discussing some job, probably in Susan's sleek midtown office.

Today we meet at a westside coffee shop. Susan looks the same as she did the last time I saw her, except she is dressed casually.  As soon as I sit down, we begin talking. It's like getting to know someone I sort-of knew, but not really. We talk about work, kids, travel, future plans, parents and more.   

I hope this is the beginning of a real friendship. This is a person I'd love to have in my life. As a real friend, not a virtual one.