...one is apparently compelled to take a screenshot while blogging wirelessly from the hotel lobby.
I'm here in this wondrous city in advance of some work-related meetings scheduled for tomorrow. I found a free hotspot and am sucking the daylights out of its available bandwidth.
I have so much work to do before I tuck in, but I couldn't be here and not snapshot it in some way.
Being away from home - again - reminds me of why I love being a part of it in the first place. It's an often chaotic, noisy, toy-strewn, place. But it comes with lots of little-people hugs at bedtime, and a rhythm of life that no antiseptic hotel can ever hope to replicate. I've been chatting via MSN Messenger with my wife, but it's just not the same as having a late-night mug of tea with her at the kitchen table.
My wife told me our little guy wanted to know how I was going to hug and kiss them goodnight from so far away. She said she'd give them an extra hug and kiss, and explicitly told them they were from me.
Sadly, we often miss the true value of something only after it's been out of our life for a bit. I miss my brood, and can't wait to be home so I can deliver the kisses and hugs in person.
Wherever you're travelling, please do it safely so that you can return to your own center of warmth.
Your turn: How do you bridge the distance when you have to be away from your family?
Technology is a wonderful thing. In between "talking" to you on messenger I came to read your blog.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that we can be so far apart yet seem so close.
If I close my eyes, I can almost pretend I'm "talking" to you from across the room (I'm embarrassed to say we often do that! :->)
Leila Tov my Sweet! Hurry home!
If you were being treated like cattle Carmi then you would still be in Canada!
ReplyDeleteAs for being away from family, i can only manage to stay away from her for 3 hours max then i have to rush home and hold her and kiss her sweet smelling little head.
Since my kids are all grown, I have to reach out to them via phone... and look forward to the holidays when we can nusually all be together. Enjoy yours while they are still young and at home. It goes soooooooooooo fast!
ReplyDeleteTexts work well for me. But, you know, I value short times away from my closest people. It helps me to realise how important they are in my life, and stops me taking them for granted.
ReplyDeleteI'm almost never away from home but my husband is away a great deal and I know he finds it really hard. But I know he loves the hugs and kisses he gets from the children when he comes home (they forget all about me at those times!).
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my part of the world Carmi, although I'm sure you've been here before!
ReplyDeleteI like to call my family; I actually have to talk with my sisters. IM and email are too slow.
While on business trips and when trying to share our son with his grandparents who are far away we use MSN Messenger - this way we can see each other and have a quick chat. We've been using messenger for about a year for this purpose and it is great - his grandparents have seen him grow up and he gets to see them... even if they are hundreds of miles away. My business trips tend to be short but we've connected on MSN to bridge the gap and at least get hellos in.
ReplyDeletethe phone or the internet. You don't know how close you are! LOL
ReplyDeleteEver since my son was very small we've followed the same night time routine. I sing the ABC's, givea quick synopsis of his day, then a short poem about going to sleep. When I'm away I call at bed time and do it over the phone.
ReplyDeleteWishing you safe travels and hope you get home soon!
ReplyDeletewhat, an hour away and don't call me? and now I'm going out of town. uggh! how long will you be here?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. My husband works at home, my kids are homeschooled, so I often feel we get too much of each other. A night alone in a hotel? Heaven. But your post has reminded me to treasure these moments and be thankful we are not forced to spend time apart.
ReplyDeleteAWWWW! I love that Morah Mommy sent you a message this way! When my kids were small, I was hardly ever away from them and when I was, I called everyday. My husband travelled way too much back then (usually 3-4 nights a week) and he also called every night, but we both agree that it is a poor substitute for being at home with your family. My husband now regrets being away so much when our kids were little, and if he had it to do over, he would try to stay home more.
ReplyDeleteMy son in law is leaving the army. THey have been in Japan for the last three years. Ny daughter and 10 month old grandson came ahead to get a job and a house.They will be apart for 8 weeks. My heart breaks for my SIL being seperated from his son at such a time in both their lives. We keep his picture all over the place and video conference whenever we can. The baby is very excited when he sees his Daddy!
ReplyDeleteIt's not so difficult to bridge the gap these days thanks to the wonders of technology. I am wondering how I am going to "bridge the gap" when i'm on remote islands in Vanuatu with no electricity and a very irregular mail service. :o)
ReplyDeleteMichele sent me.
Michele sent me here again, Carmi! Hope you are having a good weekend.
ReplyDelete