Dinner for One
One of the strangest things about traveling on business is going out for
a meal and eating alone. On my first business meal, I quickly realized
that I never eat alone in a public place. My pizza is delivered,
my fast food is taken to go, and my Chinese is carried out. I never
go to a restaurant, greet a waitress, and make an order for one.
But that’s exactly what I did on Thursday. Only one
menu please. Thank
you.
When that business trip takes you to a tropical paradise, you
miss more than just a little chat over a side salad.
You miss the ability to share the experience.
On my first to Hawaii, I had a single day to myself for sightseeing.
I had a car, a map, and a list of destinations. I traveled to several
stunning waterfalls and visited one of the more unique places
on earth:
Volcano National Park.
I was able to witness water plunging
into the volcanic rock. I was able hike through a real life rain forest.
I scampered through a lava tube and peered into the deep caldera of
a live volcano. However, I did it all completely alone.
I resorted to telephone calls to get some company.
“Mom, you wouldn’t believe what I’m seeing”
Now I don’t want to sound that I pined by the phone pleading for
attention. There were certainly some advantages to my plight.
I could move at my own pace. I could see exactly what I wanted to see
for exactly as long as I wanted to see it. It was a day like no other.
But it just helps to have some company. It helps to have my wife along
for the ride.
Tomorrow, I’ll likely wake to a glorious sunrise, where streaks of light paint the
bay outside my
hotel
window and glisten along the rocky coast. All my
wife will see of this is a simple photo. A photo could never do this
scene justice. A thousand photos couldn’t communicate just how bad I
want her see it for herself.
Taylor
November 9th, 2002 at 9:07 pm #
Hey uncle Ken I’ve read some of your “Stuff”. I think the stuff your doing in Hawaii is pretty cool. I would like to learn alot about your job. Back to your your “Stuff”,Momom says she somtimes she sits at the computer and cries because your documentries are “Tear Jerkers”. As you probably know my bithday is coming up and you could put a letter to my on your website on Nov.12th and I’ll put a comment on that documentries on return. Taylor
Jenn
November 10th, 2002 at 12:12 am #
I wish with all of my heart that I could be there with you. You are the so sweet. Got me all filled up again. I love you baby and I can’t wait until you come home!!
Deb
November 12th, 2002 at 4:46 pm #
Hey Ken, It’s your favorite sister. I love this site but hey, have you written anything good about the best sister in the world? I will be looking forward to it. Also, one thing I didn’t understand. That “Me time” thing. It has been so long I forgot what “me time” is. For the last twelve years it has been diapers, poop, bottles, poop, messes, poop, potty training, poop, vomit, poop, school, teachers, homework, sports,attitudes, backtalk, sickness, video games, toys and poop. Kids are always spewing out one hole or another. Good Luck, just to give you something to look forward to. See, no where in that did I mention “ME”. But it is all worth it! Love you bro. Deb