I’m blessed with congenial and talented colleagues, people who are fun to be with and who take their work seriously. One of these colleagues is leaving today. This post is for her.

In the great divide between people who are real and people who are fake, Kara falls squarely into the “real” category. When confronted with the sort of antics that bedevil most large organizations, Kara puts them all into perspective with a single arched eyebrow.

Kara is a gifted listener. She remembers the names of everyone’s kids and favorite teams. “You should have a sign on your desk that says ‘The Doctor is In,'” I tell her, forgetting she’s probably not old enough to remember the “Peanuts” cartoon. But Kara gets it anyway. She’s one of those people who’s as beloved by the 15-year-old intern as she is the 65-year-old messenger.

Because my parents lived in Pittsburgh for a year early in their marriage, I grew up hearing that the friendliest people in the world live there. Once I knew Kara’s hometown, she became Exhibit A.

Next week Kara returns to Pittsburgh, depriving the Nation’s Capital (never known for its friendliness) of one of its most gracious citizens. It’s a good move for Kara, a big loss for us. But I promised myself I wouldn’t be sad. So this is a happy post (trying hard to smile)!

Good Luck, Kara. Come back and see us soon!

(Photo: Peanuts Wiki)