is not what it used to be.
It's been a full year and a month since I have had to travel for work. While I saw the "shift" back then, I didn't fully recognize it until now. As I sit in the 21st floor of my hotel room in sunny San Diego overlooking the marina and bay, I no longer see what I used to love in traveling for work.
...room service
...first class
...free (and good) food
...reading celebrity mags at the airport
...the quiet time on a plane, where no one can reach me
...exploring a new city by foot
...a break from my daily routine
...uninterrupted sleep
Instead, I find myself...
...annoyed at the long lines at the airport
...embarrassed to be pumping in a public bathroom at the airport
...lifting my heavy bags, that no one helps me with
...walking in heels, when I really want to be in flip flops
...wearing my uncomfortable suit
...laughing at the loud kids next door
...laughing at the loud parents next door
...wishing my kids were the loud kids
Don't get me wrong, I've been loving the fact that I could eat a meal in peace. I even finished a 344 page library book and slept a straight 7 hours! I would've slept longer if I didn't have to pump! At the end of the day though, I miss the kids (and Melvin) more than anything and realized that while I still love to travel...I'd much rather be traveling with them. While I'm glad I've reached this realization, I'm still going to wallow in every minute of "me" time that I have for the rest of the day. Then, tomorrow morning, I'll welcome that 4:30am cry and gladly run to Amélie's room to feed her.
Absence DOES make the heart grow fonder!
Absence DOES make the heart grow fonder!
