Feb. 5, 2000 - Saturday
I have been away from Harry for two days now on my first business trip since
his birth. It will be a relatively short trip - I left Thursday evening and
will be home tomorrow night – and that seemed like a good trial run for
the inevitable travel I’ll be doing in the coming months. I have little
doubt that Harry and his mother will be fine, but a short trip to start seemed
prudent. Business travel is always a compromise for me. It’s important
for what I do and has become enjoyable as industry friendships have formed.
And, most of the days I’m distracted by the job at hand, but I’ve
never liked being away from Harry’s mother all that much. Are those feelings
increased because of Harry? I’m not sure it works that way. I think it’s
more about missing home and the day to day experiences and comfort home provides,
and now that includes Harry in addition to his mother.
What strikes me most uniquely as I do my thing is that Harry is himself his
own person. While his mother and I will help him out for a while, he will soon
need to find his own interests and will pursue his own goals. We will all have
our separate lives and he will soon be off doing his own thing. I think it's
much easy on me for me to be away than it will be for him to be away.
This trip including two industry trade shows - smaller ones than some I attend
– but I was surprised at how many parents I noticed with infants and small
children in tow. I suspect they’ve been there at other shows and my attentiveness
has just changed, but it is comforting to see that kids can be portable in case
of need.
