Sam and I met thanks to CrowdTangle, and I think she liked me mostly because I could talk about LEGOs endlessly (she has two boys so she's surrounded by LEGO).
After CrowdTangle, I'd be fortunate enough to work with her again on another product, even if it was brief. When I moved to New York, Sam welcomed me with so much enthusiasm and became my unofficial buddy at work. She patiently answered all my questions and helped me connect the dots on context I had no idea about.
We knew that chapter at work was closing, so we spent time updating our CVs and brainstorming our career prospects. It was especially hard for me, because it had only been a few months since I moved, but having Sam around helped me mentally and emotionally.
One of the first things I needed to figure out post-layoffs was my immigration status in the US. Thanks to Sam's husband, I was connected to a lawyer who specialized in employment and immigration law.
The lawyer was clear and transparent and walked me through the different scenarios to help me decide what I should do next. Most importantly, he showed me the kind of kindness I didn't expect, but I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. He was part of Sam's network, and the bar for kindness is high.
As for Sam, she checked in constantly, offered to tap her network for me and reassured me I can always text her if I needed someone to listen. Beyond work, we had little adventures like checking out the balloons the day before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
I'm grateful Sam and I have remained good friends three years after I left New York. And even if that chapter had its challenges, it will always be cherished because of friends like her.