Departure

September 14, 2006 at 10:42 AM

It wasn’t until I considered sending George off with a kiss for every day he would be away, and realised that we would chap our lips before reaching the end, that the magnitude of the situation became clear: 85 days is far too long for a business trip.

I should sleep. I just can’t get my head around the situation, though; it's very large and heavy.

From Terez Mertes
Posted on September 14, 2006 at 12:21 PM

85 days?! Oh, ouch. You have my sympathies! I whine about ten days.

From Tom Holzman
Posted on September 14, 2006 at 3:27 PM

Hang in there girl! At least you have your music, your work, and your friends. But you have our sympathy.

From bill Pratt
Posted on September 14, 2006 at 4:10 PM

Gosh that is a tough length of time.

Either G is:
an astronaut,
a secret agent,
a pelaegic fisherman,
a polar explorer,
or a roughneck.

Or a chef for all of the above!

My Hawai'i business trip in May was 12 days and my wife couldn't bear it and came out and joined me 6 days in. Of course it was our anniversary. And it was Hawai'i.

From Karin Lin
Posted on September 14, 2006 at 4:33 PM

Awww, Emily, that is a long time! We're all here if you get lonely, though.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on September 15, 2006 at 9:20 AM

He's being called to Washington to develop a new tiramisu for the Navy.

At taxpayer's expense.

From William Yap
Posted on September 15, 2006 at 3:31 PM

There is a saying in Chinese that a short departure is like a newly wed. Of course, 85 days is not short at all, which may mean that when he returns, you'll feel like you're having a huge crush on him all over again.

I recommend listening to some music, preferably in major keys, and possibly Mozart... happy and cheerful kind of music to cheer you up a bit.

From Gabriel Kastelle
Posted on September 15, 2006 at 4:56 PM

Try Chap Stick and carry on? Sympathies. No Sibelius for you! Painting takes a lot of time...

From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 15, 2006 at 9:00 PM

Aw, thanks for the sympathies, guys.

Actually, it's not as interesting as a top secret mission, and it's definitely not for the government. George's work is volunteer-based. He is required to seek support, which entails meeting with friends and churches all over the place from time to time. It's not an entirely fun trip, since we both aren't fond of speaking at churches and presenting needs to them, but he will enjoy building relationships with people and keeping in touch with old contacts. It's all for a good cause, too: volunteering enables the cost to stay low for campers. Lots of kids can even come to our camp for free because of the help we've received from so many people.

I wanted to go, but couldn't see any way around the fact that I would lose business and miss out on a lot that's going on here this fall if I was gone for four months. So I'm joining him in December for a month instead.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on September 15, 2006 at 10:03 PM

Since you had the option to join him and just chose not to, I must withhold my sympathies.

Next blogger please...

From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 15, 2006 at 11:37 PM

Dude, thanks.

From Gabriel Kastelle
Posted on September 16, 2006 at 11:28 PM

Hmmm... some choices aren't really. E.g. "Let me make you an offer you can't refuse..." [or does this open a whole nother philosophical can of worms?]

Sympathies!

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Departure

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