2009 Trip

October 10, 2009 – Picking up quite a ways after I left off…  In four days and one hour I’ll be in the air and on my way back to Israel. Fourth trip! Who would have ever imagined?

 I’m presenting a poster at a PTSD conference in Jerusalem, which is a whole story in itself,  but for now,  just think of something you started out saying,  ‘Hunh — that might be interesting,’ which then ate your life  and drained your wallet for a couple months.

In this case it has also opened a whole new world-view, so even if the poster doesn’t garner any interest, it’s been worth it. I also got to work closely with Shasta, my daughter, on the actual physical poster and was delighted to find her a patient, competent, creative, assertive, and thorough colleague and taskmaster. 

Because of that epic undertaking and a couple of big work projects with  deadlines, and having to move offices this weekend,  I have not even begun to pack. I’ve thought about it, been throwing clothes in a pile as they get laundered or located,  but for all practical purposes,  other than  making basic arrangements in Israel, I’ve done very little to get ready. 

Last year I foolishly said, “All I really need is my passport and some cash,” and the travel gods kindly honored what they apparently took as a wish.  In fact, I was wrong — I should have said, ‘all I need is my passport, some cash, and friends on both ends.’   In any case, the lesson/adventure seems to have taken, and my usual pre-trip anxiety is  fairly-well down-regulated. Or maybe I’m just too tired to feel it.