One benefit to running an Internet-based company is that I can work with people who are located all over the planet.  In fact, our team is divided among four countries on two continents.  This allows me to collaborate with a wide variety of talented people; I am not restricted by location.  However, this very benefit also makes for a unique work environment.

In the early PeKu days, I did all of the editing.  Therefore, I had regular email conversations with every writer.  For the past three years I have had associate editors who handle this work. They now have regular contact with the writers, and because of that, I don’t have as many conversations with that part of the team.  I guess that is normal for any company, as the CEO probably doesn’t make it onto the work floor frequently.  However, with the team being virtual, I can’t even walk the floor to see them, so there is this odd disconnect.  I have writers that I know by name and assignments, but not much more.

Two weeks ago, I received extremely sad news.  One of our Parched No More columnists had passed away.  Brendan was an experienced bartender who also was a talented writer.  He answered our readers’ bartending questions, wrote wine reviews, and shared cocktail recipes.  Brendan not only knew how to run a great bar, he knew how to teach others to do so, be it at home or elsewhere.

As it is with the majority of my writers, I had never met Brendan.  I had emailed with him occasionally, but I knew him more so through his three weekly columns.  Regardless to my limited time with Brendan, I felt his loss quite strongly.  He was a part of the PeKu team, a reliable, thoughtful writer.

Unfortunately, there is no pause; time moves forward.  We have found a new columnist, who I am sure will write informative, engaging articles.  However, I won’t forget Brendan, our writer who so aptly filled these roles for a period of time.