on his own

met up with an old friend for lunch today. not that he is old but we've know each other for many years now. we started off in the same company, now he's on his own - a small production company doing corporate videos and some very nice infomercial.
over lunch, what else is there to talk but of 'old' times and other friends from the same company. well some are doing well and some not so well but more importantly, some have moved on while some have 'lingered' on and feel bitter about what had happened after a corporate takeover.
it was strange a time. before that,it was the most care free company to work for. sure everyone works real hard but we party hard as well. everyone there were like a family, spending longer hours at office than home(read - no life).
when the suits came in, the ousted gm started his own outfit, took some people with him, others deemed loyal to the gm were cold storaged and those deemed neutral were kept. as always with new management came new people. and for a while most people did not know how to behave toward each other. looking back,it was quite funny. you really got to know who were your friends.
me...well, i survived without any hard feeling toward anyone and am glad to have a life now.
it's nice to catch up once a while, yet sad that i cannot do more to help out.