Not as young

We said goodbye to a longtime colleague last night. I set up the party, bought a couple of gag gifts, and others contributed to the effort in several ways. As usual, we put together a mock front page to announce his departure and had a sheet cake to wish him well.
Jason Sandford was with the company for 15 years, so he was here nine years when Rob and I got here. He was the one person who got really excited about elections. He got so excited, in fact, that it got everyone in the newsroom up for it.
So, of course we'll all miss Jason. We spent a lot of the evening telling Jason stories. My favorite is still the practical joke John Boyle played on him back when he was still a reporter. He had covered the Congressional race, and John liked to joke that he was too easy on the candidate who won. Jason prided himself on his fairness in his coverage, but it was a button for John to push.
After the race was over, John copied the Congressman's letterhead and wrote a letter thanking Jason for all his beneficial coverage of the race. He put three $100 bills into the envelope and delivered it to the front desk with the admonition to say only that someone had dropped it off.
Jason got the letter and opened it when he got into the newsroom. Like any good reporter, he was appalled. It took him a moment to realize it must be a joke.
He asked who did it and John just sat there with a straight face. Jason asked again, and John just sat there.
Finally, Jason threatened to tear the cash to bits to prove he wasn't taking bribes. John sat there as long as he could, but when Jason held up the money and said he meant it, John dove for the money. We reporters don't make enough to throw away $300 on a joke.
About 30 people came to the party, which I think made Jason feel good, and it lasted until -- well, I don't know what time. Rob and I left at 1:30 and there were still more than a dozen people there. I paid for it today. No, I wasn't hung over, but I'm really, really tired. I'm a night owl, but not the party person I was 25 years ago. Pity.