After my public whine about DARS, a few friends reached out with unexpected and much appreciated offers. Sam seized on them both, forwarding a resume to one and securing an interview with another.

I accompanied him to the interview, in part because I wanted to see my old friend, but also because she asked that I be there.

My friend runs a company started by her late husband assembling circuit boards. I’m sure there is nothing in “What Color is Your Parachute” or any of the other how-to-get-a-job-books about bringing your mom along, but that’s how we roll.

Sam and my friend communicated just fine together. They are both straight shooters. She gave him a tour and checked his ability to do some of the fine motor work. Then she told him she would work around his Albertsons schedule for now. Very classy. If it doesn’t work out, there is an easy retreat for both of them.

But I have to say, at the end of the interview, when she asked about another task altogether — helping her link up some kind of time clock hardware to her current accounting software — I saw a huge spark in Sam’s eyes.