SILVER SPURS

It took Duncan and me five years to find her. She was gone in an instant.  Yesterday.

Our young associate, Cora, decided to move to be closer to family, and I don't know whether I'll miss her more professionally or personally.  I'm glad I don't have to choose.

She was always a joy to behold: fabulous lawyer, full of integrity and grace.  Plus, she was funny, which should be a prerequisite to practicing law.  The alternative is to simply lose one's mind amidst the insanity.

When Cora joined our office three years ago, Duncan took it upon himself to add her bio to our firm website.  He did a great job summarizing Cora's background and accomplishments, but randomly threw in that she "was the 2006 Tucson rodeo queen, and won silver spurs in the same event the following year."   Stone-faced, Cora told Duncan it looked great.  Checkmate!

A few days ago, Cora's dog and two children stopped by the office to say goodbye.  "Fido" passed gas in my office, and promptly left.   Cora's son was fixated on lunch plans and cheeseburgers.  Her 3-year-old daughter, Whitney, however, sat on my lap and asked if I had a mailbox.  I thought she wanted to know so that I could send her Christmas presents.  Boy was I wrong.  The next day, Cora brought me this present hand-wrapped by Whitney,

 and told me that, according to Whitney,  the girl on the card "has a sad face."

I guess it was Whitney's way of bidding me farewell.  I cried (but then laughed when Cora told me that Whitney had asked her how to draw "boobies," before adding the prominent circles to the card).

I wonder whether Cora's children will remember me.  I always swirled them in my office chair when they visited (I called it "tornado"), and sometimes we went out for cupcakes.  I'm not beyond bribery for affection.  Furthermore, I think reckless behavior and sugar are underestimated in the workplace, especially when children are involved.  It's certainly better than having a scotch bottle in your bottom desk drawer, which will put you in jail for all kinds of reasons.

Many of us spend a good portion of our waking lives at the office.  If we're lucky, we have someone like Cora to share the adventure.  Yes, it hurts when they leave, but I wouldn't change a thing about my time with Cora.  She made ordinary law practice extraordinary.  In imaginary spurs.