First Day at XSweet

he highway was just waking up but the street leading to our new office was still slumbering. It was just after 8am on the first Friday of November, most people still in bed, fighting off their candy hangover from Halloween the night before. I, on the other hand, was too excited to get into our new office for XSweet to sleep in. 

Orange and brown leaves danced around my car as I drove, as if to welcome me to our new home. Pulling into the parking lot was like something out of a movie; the building skulked in the shadows as the sun rose behind it, perfectly back lit as I rolled in. Both doors were wide open, but I couldn’t see inside just yet. As I opened my car door, the ocean breeze washed over me, and somehow everything felt right. 

Shadow, my 3 year old Husky, was by my side. She, too, was excited for this new adventure. Her nose perked up and she sniffed all the new smells from the parking lot. Although I was ready to go inside and explore, she was adamant about putting the neighborhood on notice that she had arrived. A quick howl and tug on the leash was all I needed to understand that she wanted to get to the leaf-covered grass out front. 

Shadow was quick, she knew this was just a pit stop and that the real prize was through those double doors.

As we approached the building, our eyes adjusted to the darkness that laid before us. Shadow went in first and explored the massive empty space. The floors were polished concrete and she was having trouble gaining traction as she ran from door to door in hopes to find another dog or someone to give her pets. We both quickly realized that we were one of the first to arrive on this quiet Friday morning. High above our heads was a floating walkway connecting the two sections of the 2nd floor. Shadow didn’t know it yet, but this was going to be her favorite part of the new office.

Naturally, we spent the first few minutes running around downstairs, but soon found ourselves upstairs settling into our new office. I didn’t bring a bed for Shadow, so she wasn’t sure where to make her home until I settled into my desk, then she found herself at my feet watching the door. Laying at my feet is her spot, whether at home or on set filming. She always found her safe spot. The desk was one of those fancy desks that rises into a standing desk and this was new for both of us. The raising of the desk excited me but Shadow wasn't sure what to make of it, eventually realizing that this rising and lowering had no effect on where she laid her head.

As the morning went on, more and more people showed up and soon the building was bustling full of people moving around and getting settled in. All the offices and rooms started filling up and soon I was greeted by Holly and Andrew, the whole family was finally here. We spent most of the day setting up and pushing ahead on a long list of to-do items for the launch of XSweet. It’s funny, most days were spent with us on Zoom calls discussing things, however, this time we were all in the same room, but still on Zoom calls with other team members who didn't have the luxury of being local to our new office. As I write this, I'm realizing that this story isn't about me or our first day in the new office but about Shadows' first day. I should have given you the reader the journey of reading this from her perspective. I guess it's not too late, I can certainly deliver that for the ending...

The office was getting quiet again, like it was in the morning, so I found my spot right outside the office door overlooking the downstairs where, earlier, people were walking back and forth like a game. Every so often someone would look up to me and I, of course, would give a small howl to say "hi!" Unfortunately, no one came up to play, but they did smile back. I could see my dad at his desk smiling as he looked out the window. He had a look on his face that I've only seen a few times before, he was happy, really happy. I walked up to him because I wanted to share this moment with him. He started telling me about how beautiful the sunset was outside his window. I couldn't see it, but he said it was the most stunning sunset he had ever seen, that the sky was singing with the most electric oranges and cotton candy pinks he had ever seen. I saw him smile and take a deep breath from the open window. I remembered the smell of the ocean from the morning, the way it rushed into the car when he opened the door. 

It was just him and I, the last ones in the building. I was hoping that we would be going home soon now that the sky was getting dark, but I soon found that he had different plans. He turned back from the window and gave me a look, but not just any look. This was the look that meant, "it’s go time!" He didn’t even give me a second to get ready, he started chasing me full speed! I’m fast, very fast, and if I don’t slip, you have no chance of catching me. I took off and he ran after me yelling and screaming loud like when we are running around at the park. At first I was surprised since we were at this new place and indoors at that, but I was soon reminded that we were all alone in this huge space. We took turns chasing each other throughout the building, upstairs, downstairs, across the floating walkway and into the empty offices. I howled and yelled and so did he. This was the most fun we’ve ever had inside. We were breaking all the rules and we both knew it. We both loved it.

We settled down in the car and looked at each other. We knew that this new home was ours, our safe place. I knew we’d be back, this was an important place to my dad. I thought about him smiling by the window and seeing my friends Holly and Andrew, meeting all the new friends. This was a good day. I just hope I get to see all my friends again everytime I go. I hope I get to run around with my dad sometimes too. I hope whatever they are doing in this big building makes them as happy as that sunset made my dad, as happy as running around with him made me. That would be nice.