Isolation and Gratitude

I think I'm already starting to understand why, in prision, one of the worst things the system can do to a convict is throw them into isolation for an extended period of time. Human contact, and more specifically human contact you are accustomed to, is vital to a person's mental well-being. I'm either very sensitive to that fact, or one step away from loosing it altogether (no betting on that please ), but after just a day and change now away from the family - and REALLY away where even simple communication is difficult due to the 12 hour time difference - and it's already getting pretty depressing.

I'm over here in the big 'ol country of polite people, big momuments, and the 2008 Olympic games. Yup, Beijing. I arrived yesterday afternoon local time, after a 14 hour direct flight from Newark, NJ. The flight over was fan-fuckin'-tastic thanks to the business class upgrade I was able to convince my VP was an abolute necessity. I did a decent job of exhausting myself Friday evening, so I hit the plane and immediately fell asleep for about 7 hours, putting me on the Beijing-time right away. That might have been my saving grace, as I feel refreshed here at 7:30 in the morning and ready to take on the Great Wall and the Forbidden City today. Pictures/story to come on that in a future blog.

But, back to the topic at hand - man do I miss the family. I think it's partially because of how much I've been travelling as of late - 3 international trips on the past 6 weeks - or maybe it's that today is the 'ol B-Day and I'm 7500 miles away from the people most dear to me. Either way, loneliness has a home, and it's room 717 in the Traders Hotel in downtown Beijing. I just wasn't expecting a bedmate.

To those back at home, on this Memorial Day, I salute everyone who has either personally supported our country and protected it both at home and abroad, and those who have been touched directly by those who have. Your trials and sacrifies allow me a place where I can raise my family in freedom and security. There are no words that can adequately describe how profoundly grateful I am for that, and proud of those who provide that to me. Thank you.