This morning I woke up early and took the metro north rail to to the home of my boss, advisor and mentor. It was cold and rainy, Oct. 9th 2012. I had to take a black cab from the station to his house because he can’t drive these days. After two years of surgeries on his stomach and brain to remove cancerous tumors, he’s now dying.

He used to have an office right next to mine and I’d see him all the time. Once he stopped showing up at work because of his treatments and the various physical states they cause, I wasn’t sure how or when to start showing up at his house. Much time passed. I became extremely delayed with my dissertation work because of that, and I started slowing down my work, overall.

Leading up to my meeting with him today, I was nervous. There are very few people in this world who have the ability to make me nervous.

From the moment I arrived, though, any nervousness I had ever had disappeared. He hugged me and we walked and chatted about football for a bit before we went out to his favorite diner for breakfast. Over eggs and bacon and toast, we talked. It was one of the most important conversations I’ve ever had.

Three hours later I was back on the commuter rail headed into Manhattan. I came into my office and haven’t been able to do a thing all day.

I am excited to be starting what I’m about to start.