INDIA: A Different Perspective

Ok, so for this go-around, we have a 'guest blogger'. Jordan wanted to give his perspective on my 2-week trip to India and I thought it would be an interesting insight as well......
 

First off, let me say that this blog is by no means to get sympathy, because trust me, I know there are plenty of people whose spouses travel.  I am a "passionate  man" (as coined by Mica Anderson and Jen), but I will try to keep this as "manly" as I can.  

Jen and I first met in December of 2001, she was crazy about me and I indifferent to her.  Once she made me realize that she was the girl for me it was January 2002 (yeah I know it didn't take long)!:)  Anyhow, we really haven't spent an extended amount of time away from each other.  Honestly, the first trip I can remember being gone more than a few days was when me and my Cuz, took a trip to the Nascar race at Talladega and I called her very inebriated one night to tell her that I have never missed anyone that much since I went to church camp and missed my parents (needless to say my Cuz still gives me shit about this to this day, as does Jen).  

Jen and I both had a lot of unneeded anxiety leading up to her leaving (meaning her stressing out about work and leaving the boys and me wanting her not to leave for that long).  I wear my heart on my sleeve, so of course I got emotional a few times leading up to her departure which didn't make it any easier for her as she got emotional right back......in her own special way! :)  She didn't want to leave the boys for that long, i didn't want her to be gone that long, and I damn sure didn't know if I could play both roles for 15 days.

Well the day finally came for her to leave.  It was fun because we got to hang out with family, cook out, drink a little and pretend that the day would end with us all together.  Jen and I knew that wasn't it so we headed out that evening after an emotional goodbye for her with the boys (which honestly there is no words to explain her Love for our boys).  We headed off for DFW, laughing, joking, then it was time to say goodbye.  I held her close, we shed tears, tears of love that we needed each other, and understanding that everything would be ok 15 days from then.  I bid her goodbye and didn't turn around because I knew that my duty was to get in my Chevy, be strong, and take care of our boys, for her, for me, for them!

So enough of the mushy shit!  Jen being gone was the perfect opportunity for me to instill all of my wisdom into my boys and just do man stuff!  I mean what better opportunity do we have to pee outside whenever we want, walk around all day with no shirts, fart and laugh about the smell, and just be father and sons!  So, we did that plenty, we played outside and didn't take baths, we stayed up too late, we didn't eat right, we were just men (and little men) and I loved every minute of it! 

I attempted some normalcy and took the boys out to Chili's one night, then to Sweet Frog.  We survived, maybe only because the new little automated waiters at Chili's that include games, but hell I will take it!  They always asked about Mommy and we always looked at the calendar to see when she was coming home.  Those boys love their Momma, not sure why ;) j/k.  The 4th of July is when we really missed her, watching the fireworks, first time without Jen.  Luckily enough, I have great friends that came and celebrated the holiday with us (thanks Jed and Dixie).  We played music late into the night and Dixie led the boys in a few dances in the front yard as we celebrated, it was such as awesome time!  

I had every intention of making Jen's return something out of a movie when she walked through the terminal door and we tried, but as little boys do they got sidetracked.  :)  We went potty numerous times, I threatened to bust their butts in the middle of the airport, they laid down in the middle of the terminal waiting on their mommy.  You can't plan perfection, and the moment I saw Jen walk through the doors and the boys fell into their place of holding their "Mommy" sign and the roses..........hell it couldn't  have been a more perfect reunion!  It was in that moment that renewed me again.  This incredible woman is so successful, so determined to be the best in everything she does, loves her job, loves her boys, loves me unconditionally.  I love this woman with everything I have.  Be jealous, everyone be jealous, and I am humbled, this is our life!!

INDIA: It's a Wrap!

I'm finally getting around to wrapping up my India trip on the blog. The second week was exhausting. Teaching all day, then going back to my hotel room and catching up on my regular job during 'U.S. hours' when everyone else was awake was alot. But I was basically a lazy bum that Sunday. I left my room for breakfast only and then spent hours watching Netflix. A productive day for sure. :) But just what I needed.

 

I continued to chat with the family back home daily through FaceTime. The boys kept asking me if I was still on vacation!! I guess because I was in a hotel room when they chatted me, they thought Mommy was chilling in some tropical location! Wrong. The second week there was definitely harder than the first. Homesickness set in full force. I got a little cranky. On my last day in the office, my class brought in a cake for me, and got me two small gifts. It was sweet of them to do that. They're all coming to Dallas for additional training once they come to the U.S. in a few weeks, and seem excited to reconnect with me then.

On my last night there, it was July 4th. Obviously, I wasn't home to celebrate and watch fireworks with the family, so I had to make the best of it. Afterall, I only had a few hours left! One of our senior managers from the New Orleans office is currently living over there with his wife, and he hosted a small cookout for the U.S. peeps. I'm really glad I went and had a great time with some bocce ball, grilling out, and drinking some good ol' Budweiser. After getting a little tipsy and sleeping just a few hours, I checked out of the hotel at 4am and headed off to the airport to begin my long journey home. Thankfully, my return trip back to the U.S. was uneventful and on-time. I couldn't wait to get back and be reunited. And let me tell you. When I finally walked out of the international terminal at DFW and was greeted by my family, it was pure bliss. I was that crazy lady crying who just dropped her bags, dropped to her knees and welcomed two sweet little boys into my arms. Chase was holding a 'Mommy' sign and Austin was clutching some roses for me. It was nearly straight out of a movie, just surreal.

 

After that, it was just days of trying to recover again from the jetlag. All I seemed to want to do is sleep. All the damn time. And I nearly did! I took a few days off from work to relax and spend with the family, but now I'm back at it! A big thanks to the hubby for holding down the fort while I was gone. I'm sure my absence for 15 days was no vacation for him, and he hung in there like a trooper!

 

Overall, it was an experience traveling that far, for that long, all by myself. Granted, I was pretty sheltered with my personal driver, posh hotel, business class airfare, etc., but still, give me some credit! I have a feeling I'll be back to India again for my job, and will try to be more adventurous. And I WILL be bringing a co-worker along next time!