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Today we say goodbye to Tracy Madden.

Having known her since 1997, she is more than a colleague but a good friend.

Farewell moments are different in television than anywhere else.  We usually have a warehouse full of videotape that contain our successes and failures, our achievements and missteps.  Some of it aired and the public saw it live. Sometimes it's the behind-the-scenes stuff that never saw the light of day until someone in production decided to save a copy.

This weekend we'll have a party for her where co-workers will embarrass her with those types of stories and celebrate the achievements.  I am sure we'll even embellish or create versions where there is no evidence to prove otherwise.

We'll miss her confidence and compassion and on-air sensibilities.  While it will be strange not seeing her in the newsroom anymore, she isn't moving out of town for her new job but staying around.

I'll have the luxury to see her and her family -- only she'll probably be in sweats and there will be no microphone in sight.