Updated Wednesday, Dec. 15, 06:30 Frankfurt, Germany
TAKEAWAY: So I have completed my last official day of work for 2010, and now it is time to get ready for Christmas and to stay at home for 35 days.
I had just finished a conversation on the phone with my daughter Elena in Florida and told her that I am coming home today and staying on the ground 35 days. No sooner I had hung up with her that the news really hit me: at home 35 days.
This is the longest I would have been on the ground in quite some time. At home. Sleeping in my own bed. Seeing my neighbors and getting reacquainted with them. Doing all the domestic things that I don’t get a chance to do while sitting at airport lounges or staying at hotels that become my second homes away from home for big chunks of time.
And reading those fat books in print that I have on my night table and that are just too heavy to take on the road (what are iPads for?). However, I admit anticipated pleasure in reading those books in print, touching the pages, putting the leather bookmark between them, moving with the rhythms of the pre iPad era, albeit for a brief time.
Nice. As I told Elena: the thought of 35 days on the ground, no flying, no hotels, and enjoying the family, is, indeed, the best Christmas present to myself.
“Where is home?”
Coincidentally, someone asked me in Rotterdam yesterday——my last official day of work for 2010——what place on earth I found myself most at home.
My answer: I truly find every place I go interesting in some way and I don’t seem to miss the place I just left. Call it survival, but it works for me. And, indeed, when I am home in Tampa, I never have any desire to leave and in my mind I am there to stay. Of course, my assistant, Toni, will send me a friendly reminder about the next flight and I know it is time to say goodbye to the comforts of home.
For now, it is time to put the Christmas tree up, wrap presents for 11 grandkids and chill a couple of bottles of Veuve Clicquot to celebrate the festive season and welcome the new year.
Later this week, I get to see my grandson Danny perform the role of Tiny Tim in the school Christmas play, and I see my grandson Frankie on stage during the Christmas show at his school too.
And I know that in about 12 days my pilot ears will pop all of a sudden, and I will hear those Christmas carols sung by my grandkids so much better. It always happens when I stay grounded for a few days.
I will also spend time caring for my neglected orchids, rearranging a frame or two from one side of the wall to the other, doing morning runs around the Temple Terrace golf course, and following my annual ritual this time of the year: going thru my closet, collecting anything I did not wear for six months or longer and piling it all up to take to various homeless shelters, along with a collection of a year’s worth of toiletry kits given to me by the airlines. I put them in a big bag and deliver them so that someone who has nothing will have a toothbrush, a comb and assorted goodies to survive a day or two.
In between those activities, I will take a peek at my computer from time to time, since I know that the world does not stop, and that many of my clients and friends do not disconnect.
Of course, TheMarioBlog will continue until a little before Christmas, although perhaps with less frequency. Last year at this time I promised that there would be no blog for two weeks, only to find myself itching to tell a story or two during the holidays. Better to play it safe and to leave the option open to write up an entry if something of interest happens beyond the announcement of a new orchid in view at my family room window, or an alligator sighting in the river behind my house.
Right now, it is good to know that the official work of this busy year is completed. But is work really ever finished? As my friend William Powers would urge me: it is time for a little disconnect.
Take a look at this app
Our friend Joe Zeff now has his own app, and you must take a look. It is slick, elegant and serves its purpose well.
Go here:
http://joezeffdesign.com/our-first-app/
Fun from the LIFE iPad edition
Ready for a little early morning Wednesday fun?
Turn to LIFE’s iPad edition for an interesting play with photos, comparing two well known football stars with other creatures they resemble. Take a look.