"Parting is such sweet sorrow."

Meet Washington Mutual's senior technology leadership team. Many of us on the team have worked together for five years, under the leadership of the blond on the right in the second row. When you work with such stars, you can finish one another's sentences. And it is hard to let go.

This week has mostly been saying goodbye to other folks who have been with me at some point over the past ten years. Looking back is often as important as looking forward, at least this week. Tomorrow I host my managers for lunch. On Friday, the remainder of the team in the picture hosts me for lunch. Tears maybe. Laughter, for sure. And optimism about what the future will bring.