So, I have completed the official business portion of my trip.  Nothing worthy of note took place at the meetings.  In fact, it occurred to me as I sat through what will be my last gathering of this type just how little things had changed in 30 years of this type meeting.  The same tired issues, the same failed solutions, the same talking heads with all the answers.  Government in action.

Highlight of the week was that the last day was held inside the Pentagon.  That was a first for me and I’m glad I got to experience it.  Quite the building.

And to be completely honest, notwithstanding the pointlessness of most government meetings, with each new “last” I feel an odd sense of loss and sadness.  It is what I have known and done these many years.  Feels almost like losing an old friend somehow.