Friends are the family you choose, they say. But that’s not entirely true. When you’re a kid picking friends, you’re lucky if there are fifty kids to choose from. Your choices are limited. But when you’re an adult, there are no limits. You have millions to choose from. And yet, by 40... most people stick to the friends they’ve already made. They’re not accepting new applications. Rocco and I became friends deep into our forties. Recognizing in each other some kindred spirit, some of the same fire to endlessly improve, an opportunity to learn from each other, and an effortless laughter that sprang from each other... and just like that we were fast friends. So fast that it felt like being a kid again. It was that known at our respective cores. I hate that you’re gone. It was way too short. It was completely unfair. And I’m still angry about it. But I’m also grateful... enormously grateful that I got the time with you that I did. You changed my life. You would say to me... what can you learn from this? How can you grow from this? How will this make you stronger? I don’t know yet but I promise I’m working on it. Rocco Basile RIP