My last morning in San Fran was enjoyable but brief – the subsequent afternoon/evening of travel home was quite the opposite. But I did finally make it home and was able to enjoy a night’s sleep in my own bed. Of course after tonight it is another week on the road. Fun.
After packing up and checking out, I had a nice breakfast at a small diner called the Nob Hill Grille with a current and a former colleague – both the food and the company were good. There are few better ways to kick off the day than good french toast with real fresh local fruit and creme anglais (accompanied by good coffee and a mimosa, even better). But once I get to the airport, I find my flight delayed and heavily booked. It ends up generally a comfortable and pleasant flight, but I’m going to give serious consideration to first class for any future cross-country flights.
My first view of my family in a week comes in the form of my wife and kids pulling up to pick me up at the airport (at least one of them conked out in the back seat). We make the drive home, sharing stories with my wife and Cricket. We carry the kids to bed when we get home (Cricket slipped to sleep halfway back), and I start my laundry to prepare for the inevitable next phase.
My kids seemed to inadvertently ease my jet lag adjustment by sleeping in really late. Beyond giving them sourvenirs, today unfolded like a pretty typical Sunday. Though it was emphasized with considerable more father-kid time (wife taking a well-deserved respite from them). There were some moments, some time outs, some whining fits – but it was all par for the course. I’ll walk out tomorrow morning as if heading to work and then be gone for the week to NYC.
While I’m looking forward to this next trip in some respects, I’ll also be happen when it is done and things go back to normal. Life on the road is busy, expensive, and no matter how much networking you may do while away, it can leave you feeling disconnected. If I didn’t come prepared with a handful of books to read and my laptop to browse and blog, I may have gone stir crazy this past week – even in those brief periods of downtime I had. I’m sure New York will be fun, but I wish I had more time to cleanse my palette.