Two Former Geophysicists

I had lunch with an old friend from my previous department at Noodle Shack in Avenue K.

We met around 2012 or 2013, when we were both geophysicists. Since then, our careers have changed, our families have grown, and many of our former colleagues have moved into new roles and places.

I left geophysics in 2019 to become a copywriter. She remained in reservoir geophysics longer, with several career breaks in between, and recently moved into business planning.

I felt proud of her.

We both left Tier 1 technical roles for enabler functions and had to develop new strengths. Technical expertise takes years to build and can become part of how we understand ourselves. Entering another discipline requires humility and a willingness to become a beginner again.

It was comforting to speak with someone who understood that adjustment.

Over lunch, we talked about our children, our families and the choices that have shaped our lives. More than a decade passed easily over a bowl of noodles.

She is calm, kind and articulate, with an ease I admire. She is also very pretty.

I was glad to find that talking to her still felt natural. The friendship had survived the department where it began and the years we spent following separate paths.

We arrived as two former geophysicists and left as two friends who still had more to talk about.

I hope we have lunch together again.