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Tomorrow I leave for a week of software training in Charleston. It made me think about how the same event is so different to different people. For me, it will be the first time in years that I have had a week to myself away from home. I did have a week without the kids last summer when they went to camp, but still had my job, house stuff and the pets to deal with. But this week, from 4:30pm until 8:30 am every day I will be able to do ANYTHING that I want to do.
On the way up, I might stop in Savannah and play tourist for a few hours because I can arrive at my hotel anytime I feel like it. I can stop when I want and no one will tell me that they have to go to the bathroom while I'm driving. I can drive straight through if I want.
After class each day I can go to my room and spend an hour in the bath- I'm bringing spa products- without someone talking to me through the bathroom door. I can walk around my room naked.
I can go see any movie I want- even with no notice or planning. I can see two in a row. I can eat popcorn for dinner. I can go to happy hour and come in any time with no notice to anyone.
I can go to dinner at a nice restaurant and take all the time that I want. I can go shopping without fifteen cell phone calls coming in from my kids or without dragging them behind me.
Maybe I'll take a carriage ride. Maybe I won't. I will have silence in my room. The reality is that I will probably still do what I am doing now for the most part. But just knowing that I can do anything at any time and then come back to a freshly made bed- woo hoo- free at last, free at last....
Yeah, I know how that feels, and how long THAT lasts...until they call your cell non stop, and cry for you to come home...and then your guilt trip kicks in, because the poor kids are "suffering", while you are having a good ol' time....LOL.....
ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY!!!!
Back when my adult boys were babies, I had to take a business trip. I was fine until I got to the hotel room. It just seemed so lonely that I had a meltdown. It's funny how we long for solitude until we actually get it.
Of course, that was Toronto. I've always wanted to go to Charleston! Have a great trip!
HIF, even though it sounds like for some people it could go either way, I think with listening to you on other threads you will have a great time. I see the room service, shoping, spa experience and all of that. If you are a loner like me you won't need to buddy up with some of the others. But... You may find someone who you click with that you could go have drinks and din din with. Try to experience the silence as as good thing and have HIF moments that don't include thinking about home. I know it's hard but it will be better for your emotional well-being. Have fun....but be a good girl LOL
I don't have many opportunities to do alot business trips but about a year ago I was out in Phoenix for two weeks and I thought that I would just have the craziest time by myself. I loved the quit the first couple of days but then I started to get that summer camp feeling boy did I miss home. It makes you realize that all the chaos that comes with raising a family is what its all about.
Thank you all for the good wishes, for sharing your parellel experiences and thoughts. I arrived home last night.
I have some pix, some thoughts, some anecdotes. But first, I would like to share my drive into town and how fleeting life can be.
My drive was just over five hours. Up I-95, cutting over to Rt. 17 and then connecting to I-526 to arrive at my hotel. Just before I was to get on to I-526, I decided to stop at a grocery store and get some water and munchies for my room. It was Sunday night, just before 7pm.
I saw a Piggly Wiggly, but was hoping to find a Publix, so passed by and continued on a bit down Rt. 17. On the right was a huge furniture store - Sofa Super Store. It was the only business that caught my eye- as it was as big as a super Wal-Mart.
It burned just 24 hours later- nine firefighters dying in the blaze. Here are pictures of the store, taken on my way home yesterday, as well as one taken in Charleston on Thursday afternoon at the oldest firehouse in the country, where flowers and other tokens of respect were being left in honor of the fire fighters that died.
Give your loved ones an extra hug. One never knows what tomorrow will bring.
HereinFLA, thanks for the account of your travels and the photos! Yes, life sure can change in an instant. We usually take our firefighters and law enforcemnet folks for granted most of the time. it's a shame it takes tragedy for the rest of us to stop and honor them... We tend to throw the word "hero" around far too freely anymore, but these guys ran into a burning building while everyone else was running out. They just wanted to save lives. Bless all of them (and those around them...)
HIF, ot os so sad what happened to the firefighters my prayers are with the family and loved ones.
I hope you were able to relax, enjoy and pamper yurself a bit. The mental relaxation is worth a million. Today I drove form Miami to my sisters in Naples. I took my step son and I must have received four calls from DH and five from Daniel about can I go here?? DH did you give Daiel permision to do this?? It was driving me nuts!!
Bottom line told Daniel "Im not home so I cant give you permission ask Luis". In about eight days I will be traveling to Chicago for a family situation by myself. I cant wait to see how many calls I'll get from home. My cell phone might accidentally fall in the toilet.
Actually, I could not believe that my kids only called me once and I called them twice. I think they didn't call because they stayed with my grown son and he let them do things that I wouldn't. Nothing terrible, but, for instance-they got to stay up as late as they wanted to and use the computers for as long as they wanted.
If they would have called to tell me about their day, something would have come up that I would have vetoed (riding a motorized scooter) and so they decided to leave well-enough alone.
I also found myself leaving my phone in the room. And could not get wireless for my laptop. So other than a few quick logins during breaks at the classes, I wasn't even online. And I had no withdrawal pains!
Only a few pix and not any of the usual ones- that's what postcards are for! The tours shut down at five (except the ghost tours), as did the carriage rides and art galleries. So, that was disappointing. But there were great meals, lots to see on foot and many terrific people to get to know.
I passed this on the way in- a few counties outside of Charleston- and made a mental note to check it out on my way home. Why would they name it this? Would there be a marker?
Thanks for the pics. It's my dream to visit there, one day!
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I don't have many opportunities to do alot business trips but about a year ago I was out in Phoenix for two weeks and I thought that I would just have the craziest time by myself. I loved the quit the first couple of days but then I started to get that summer camp feeling boy did I miss home. It makes you realize that all the chaos that comes with raising a family is what its all about.
Trip over- reporting in- hug your loved ones.
