Musings on topics of small or large importance. Especially partial to subjects that include baby boomers, public figures, friends, Corporate America, the Denver Broncos, NASCAR, my previous home towns of New York City and Columbia (Maryland), stupidity (mine and others'), diets and health and who knows what else!

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Oh No! Not an Aneurism! Not to Him!

Last night I learned that a longtime business and personal friend had an aortic aneurism that burst when he was in his office last Friday night. Mike Kidder, one of Bechtel Group Inc.'s senior public affairs directors, as I write this, is still unconscious and while doctors and family are hopeful, his condition is extremely serious.

I am in shock.

Mike has been an extremely devoted Bechtel-ite for many years, and so it's no surprise to hear that he was in his office on a Friday night. He was in the company's headquarters in San Francisco until recently (he's now in Bechtel's Maryland office), and even with the 3-hour time difference, we would always know that we could talk late, or early. We joked many times about our mutual tendency to work long hours, but he consistently took it to the max. I wondered many times if that was really required for him to do his job or if it was his perfectionistic nature to give that much all the time.

These days, Corporate America is leaner than it's ever been, which means that people are doing three people's jobs as a matter of routine. How many people is that killing and how many lives are we shortening with that being the case? I know that in my own company, more than one person has ended up in the hospital, some hit with serious, life-changing attacks. They've all come back, fortunately. So far.

Last night as my tears fell as I e-mailed my colleagues about Mike's condition, I thought back to the early days as my friendship with Mike developed. It began in early 1991. He was the contact at Bechtel during the first Gulf War. I was the editor at Engineering News-Record (ENR) who covered the reconstruction of Kuwait and I was seeking information. Mike couldn't tell me anything -- they had people trapped in Iraq and didn't want to jeopardize their lives. I kept calling, several times a week, and he kept not giving me anything. But he and I chatted each time and developed a good rapport. Eventually he could dribble tidbits of information to me, and as he saw how I handled them and as he dribbled a little more, our mutual trust grew. And we liked each other -- we made each other laugh. He has a great dry and wry sense of humor and once we broke through the barriers of formality with each other, we could jab good-humoredly at our companies, ourselves and each other.

When Mike learned that I was going to Kuwait to report on the rebuilding, he couldn't help me find their people there per corporate instructions. Bechtel was in charge of the logistics of putting the fires out in the oilfields. I'm not a reporter for nothing so I eventually found Terry Farley, Bechtel's guy in charge of the whole venture in Kuwait, but I had to extend my 10-day trip an extra day or two to find him. We -- ENR -- named Farley our "Man of the Year" for 1991 for getting the fires out months ahead of what they expected. (No link available to that story, unfortunately. Too bad -- Farley is quite a character and it's a good story.)

I didn't meet Mike in person until I went to San Francisco to interview Terry and other Bechtel folks for the Man of the Year story. (ENR now calls it "Award of Excellence" winner -- doesn't have quite the impact but it's more politically correct.) Mike took great care of me when I was there and our trust and friendship grew.

We've co-conspired on many projects since 1991, all beneficial to our respective companies. He went through a nasty divorce (aren't they all?) a few years ago, and as he confided in me as that went on and on...and on, our bond increased. I coached him when he wanted to get back out into the dating world -- "Go somewhere casual on the first date, maybe for lunch." -- but he wasn't in the dating pool long. He met Lynne and that was it. I was very happy for him.

Two weeks ago, he called me and we took some time to catch up a bit. I wondered at the time what prompted the call, because it had been a long time since we'd just chatted as buds. I felt very good when we ended the call. Now in light of his unbelievable condition, I'm sooooo glad we had that chat. I pray it wasn't our goodbye talk.

Mike, my prayers -- and tears -- are flowing for you. And Lynne, for you and the whole family too.

Today is Thanksgiving, and I'm thankful for Mike's and my friendship. It will continue, no matter what.