Daylight, with demands
~ I'm pre-trip tired, overbooked, overtired, lit from exactly the wrong angle
Musings … my thoughts, every day since March 20, 2003 … now in my 24th year, haven’t missed a day; love the ‘likes’ - thanks to those who click the heart button, I’d love to see more comments and extensions of the conversation - so, please click the cloud-shaped balloon with your comments and/or suggestions - they make this writer better and are shared with all readers who get this publication.
Some mornings don’t arrive gently.
They barge in through an office window, point the sun at a low angle directly targeting my weary eyes, and demand an answer:
~ “So, why are you so far behind before the day starts already?
Five (5 - count ‘em) more sleeps …. sounds charming, just five more until the trip starts which means - stating the obvious - for now, preparation is eating up a shrinking number of days before this trip can even roll out of the hangar …
Blinding sun arrived at exactly the wrong low angle this morning, which felt like a personal affront …
It wasn’t, of course.
It’s a sunny, clear day, and all I can do is fault rotation of the earth, and my office window doing what my office window does - every morning when the sky is clear ...
I love that window. I hate that window.
For twenty-three hours a day, it’s a lovely gift. But for one hour, it becomes an interrogation lamp with ‘weather permitting’ right-of-way privileges.
Seemed about right.
I’m tired. Not tragic tired. Pre-trip tired. Pre-stressed, pre-fatigued, and somehow enjoying my own version of pre-trip jet-lag pity party time …
Five more sleeps.
So, who’s counting?
Apparently I am.
My lists are re-scribbled thrice-over, and breeding sub-lists now.
Bags, bookings, documents, work to finish before departure, ‘some’ work to manage while gone, and triaging that work which must make the trip with me, and deciding which work will be sulking in a pile from inattention until I return.
Yesterday also brought a bit of ‘tension interrupts-us’ chuckle moment …
Yesterday’s news, Ted Turner died, brought with it a wide smile and a pause for reflection, laughter and admiration.
Admired him. Business genius. CNN founder. Bison rancher. Conservationist. Celebrity. Controversial spectacular character.
About 28 years ago I was marketing a 3,500-acre/1,100 head bison ranch between Edmonton and Jasper; I sent him the package x 3 - LA, NYC and Atlanta - hoping to reach him and hoping I would by-pass at least two of his gate-keepers …
It got to him, but sadly we never spoke …
Better - a funny story to tell, and the laughter repeats each time I recall the call and the letter that followed - from his lawyer, with a lazy looong drawl, from Atlanta, advising, ‘Mr. Turner said thank you for thinking of us, but he isn’t interested in anything under 50,000 acres.’ and, in that moment I couldn’t contain my laughter, while also appreciating that he took time to have his lawyer call me. I thanked him for calling and asked that he tell Mr. Turner we appreciated him reviewing what we sent.
I’m still laughing, and smiling.
Farewell, Ted.
And. it’s a great real estate 101 lesson learned/repeated - like so many uncomplicated parts of any business.
Reach out anyway.
No matter how easily we can self-excuse what seems like a futile exercise … because we never know who will answer, or what they’ll say - and we never know whether it will make us a dollar, or if it just makes us laugh every time we think of it.
So here I am again - trip time - a vacation …
Too much to do, too little time, and daylight demanding attendance.
p.s. for those who might be curious, yes it’s a trip for two, for two weeks, Calgary to Paris and driving through much of the south of France. Wi-fi exists. Some work will happen. Some experiences will be exciting, some will be a waste of time/money/energy, and some will cause laughter every time we think of them, every time we tell the stories.
And, apparently, life will go on … and most work will wait.
Some mornings don’t ask whether I’m ready;
they just blast through that window and make me report for duty.