This photo was taken after this year's holiday lunch with some of my former co-workers at the Department of Toxic Substances Control.

When we all worked there about a decade ago, we each endured some of the most difficult and exhausting management challenges of our careers, no thanks to a small group of employees who were out-of-control and seemed to delight in making everyone else miserable.

But the six of us survived the ordeal and have stayed good friends all these years. Some of us have moved on to new jobs, a few still work together, and two are married to each other. 

I'm glad they keep me on the invite list for this get-together each year because they are really special people whose friendships I cherish.