It has been over 15 years since I have been on a business trip.I finished work on a Friday at 8 in the evening and had my first baby that Monday. I used to spend three months a year in New York in beautiful clothing(clothing allowance provided), working in an architectural marvel at 5th and 52nd in the top 5 floors, with delicious and generous per diems and hotel rooms in the theatre district with famous cool people milling about.
The fact that we got paid peanuts did not matter too much for a while. The fact that we often sat around boardroom tables with designers and sales people until 4 in the morning debating earnestly and with vigour whether we should call ‘beige’- wheat, biscuit or flax that year only became truly hilarious to me when I was pregnant.
I had every intention of going back to work. Until I gave birth. Return dates loomed like a guillotine. Simply could not do it. They might not have taken me anyway- I was so crazy in love with my daughter, spoke in monosyllables only -maybe even with a baby voice-wiped everyones’ chins(adults included), moved their dinner plates closer to them and wore only clothes I could sleep in if I got an opportunity.
I was a shadow of my former self. Deliriously happy and stupid.
Never went back. Never missed the brain time, the business trips, the clothes. Never looked back. I ended up with work that was the antithesis of glamour –teaching art to children . Now I am looking forward to my first ‘business’ trip in all that time. It is a Blogfest in Collingwood with many of my fellow bloggers at Urbanmoms. There are many of us going in cars provided by Ford, staying at the Westin, with delicious meals, fantastic activities like yoga on the docks, and drinks here and there . I get to cover a trip to my favourite spa there and play 9 holes of golf. Afterwards I am going to tell you all about it so you can feel you were with us or even check out some of it for yourselves.
Business cards have been printed for us and we had to choose a picture that best represents where we are/who we are. Mine is above. We call that picture laughing girls.
There will be no budgets to review, no sexual harassment (darn), no boring meetings, no lofty sales figures to surpass, no 4 am meetings regarding nonsense.
Can’t wait.
ever had the exam dream? check out my scary dream scenario on my other blog-by clicking here
just great – good to laugh at yourself and how priorities change.
thank god priorities change ! Thanks for the ongoing support and example of how it is done-xn
Such timing Nancy. Today I got a call to pick up a fine paying contract. Same ol work. Flexible work, mainly work from home. I pondered it over all day. I have never had a baby sitter for more than 3 hours, every few months, let alone a nanny.
I am feeling a tentative yes when Emily walks through the muck in our backyard in clean white socks. But I also had the sweetest afternoon with Clare pretending to sleep on me on the carpet, asking me if she shared nicely on her second of three playdates that day. (She is 3, sharing is a challenge).
I guess I am still in limbo, waiting for something to push me forward or back.
I loved your post, it made me feel at ease. Thanks Nancy.