Out of Pocket

I've been out of town for the last five days. Actually, that's not quite accurate. I have been at a seminar in town for the last five days and staying at a hotel with other seminar attendees during the off hours.

I get to travel a fair amount and stay in hotels usually five to seven times a year. I generally enjoy the experience of travel and being away. There is something metaphysically exhilirating about airports, about being in a place between places. It is a place of possibility. It's a place of departure . It can be way to get out of the routines of life periodically to re-connect to yourself. Sometimes a change of scenery facilitates that.

What was new to me this last week was staying at a hotel while being in town. It was odd to know that all the regular rhythms and relationships continued to pulse just a few minutes away. It was hard to know that my wife was sick and taking care of two sick kids and that she wanted me to be just where I was. And it was good to take time away to attend to myself, even in the midst of the swirling chaos of life and sickness and busyness, so that there might actually be a there there.

And I am reminded of the best aspect of traveling: coming home and looking into the eyes of your family and friends and once again saying, "This is where I belong."