On the ground

After a 1 hr delay in Chicago we finally took off about 9:20pm on Thursday night and the pilot must have put the pedal to the metal because we still landed exactly on time in Abu Dhabi, 7:15pm here, 11:15am Friday in the east.

NYUAD treats its new employees well. After asking for a window seat at check in for my Etihad Airways flight the check in manager there told me they were overbooked in Business Class so to accommodate me he'd have to bump me to First Class. My response was simply "thank you".

First class was nice, to say the least. I watched three movies on my personal, 24" in screen television, slept for about 5 hrs, stretched out flat on my seat, I didn't use the personal pajama's they offered me and didn't take advantage of their offer to make my bed for me, ate three times and then we landed. It ended up being a 12:55 minute flight.

My friend Bill, who hired me, met me at the airport to say hello and to give me a friendly face when I arrived. The greeter got me through customs and my work visa issues, the porter picked up my three large bags and then I was put in a car and taken to my new apartment. After I got unpacked Bill and his wife Lisa took me out to dinner. I had Peking Duck at a Japanese restaurant (why don't they call it Beijing Duck, since the city changed its name?)

I finally put head to pillow about 1:00am here, which was about 5:00pm Friday in the east.

Next up my first day on the ground. This is simply riveting isn't it?

Now it Starts

Today is the 29th of July so the journey really starts today. The day I've been focused on since reservations were confirmed back on 23 June. It was a busy morning, had lunch with daughters #1 & 2 (Rachael and Courtney) as they are better known.


Even though it's kind of late to ask them, I inquired if they thought I was in any way selfish or not being a good Dad by leaving and heading to Abu Dhabi. They both agreed it was time for me to go and they were glad for me. They felt like it was good for me and them too so any concerns I had I left at the Griffin Pub today. Until I pulled out of the driveway and looked at them both standing there and I realized this isn't any business trip... I was leaving for good.

So with Sarah (#3) settled in Massachusetts and Rachael and Courtney still in Battle Creek, I left. Certainly some mixed feelings about leaving after living there for 17 years and I did leave before, but that was only for a set amount of time (13 months in Iraq). This time it was knowing the only reason I'll get back to Battle Creek is to visit friends.

Stay well.

Still packing

It has been a busy two weeks since our return from Massachusetts and dropping off of daughter #3. Between packing, seeing people and getting my life in Battle Creek wrapped up I've been going about 70 mph. In between all that I've also been doing some things for my new employer NYU AD.

The movers still haven't called or shown up to inventory and pack all my stuff. I've got my life down to 6 18 gallon plastic totes, two old foot lockers, some pictures, my stand up work station, two suitcases and my golf clubs.

Alert: The movers just called as I was typing this. Strangely enough they were just given the order so don't think it's possible to even get this stuff picked up before I leave on Thursday.

I'm still excited about going, but the only drawback is leaving the girls and my friends here. I don't say "Goodbye" to many people since I expect to see them again at some point in the future.

I figured out that I've run more miles in Michigan than anywhere else I've lived due to the 17 yrs I've been here. The only place I've lived longer is Massachusetts, but I didn't become a runner until my teenage years.

I'll let you know how the rest of the week goes.

Back Home

I'm back in Burlington, MA where I spent the first 18 yrs of my life. It's also where I started my running career so of course I always go running while I'm here. As I ran some familiar streets and down around my high school I noticed everything has aged. Buildings, streets, the school, the trees, it all just looks older.

I wonder, as I run, how it's possible I still look the same and am running at the same 6:00/mile pace around town, but everything else has aged so much. Is it possible that I actually am 51 yrs old and I'm not running 6:00/mile, but 8:00/mile?

I don't think so.

Phase I of the Journey

Begins today with the departure from Battle Creek of daughter #3, better known as Sarah Catherine Young. The mini-me if there ever was one, but also a much better version. A genuinely funny kid who cares about people. We're taking her out to the Boston area (Chelmsford, MA to be specific) where she will move in with an old family friend, start working and begin preparing for school in January.

That will be one down, with the next departure being mine on July 29th. This should be a fun road trip for the girls and I heading back to where it all started in 1988 with Rachael's birth. We left Massachusetts in 1993 and have been here almost 17 years, Battle Creek has become our home, but Sarah and I feel a lifelong tug from Massachusetts so she's heading back today.

Wayne

It's Hot...

here in Battle Creek, but it's going to be even hotter in Abu Dhabi. Temps there today were 103 degrees for a high and 88 for the low.