Not Being There

Nothing can make up for not being there. It’s the worst part of working away.

Felt pretty slick, door of the house (in West Bloomfield Township) to the door of the hotel in Philly in just a few hours on Tuesday. A lot of people spent that in line for TSA security alone. Winning. The meal that night was Israeli cuisine, and the talk with Nicola and I was mostly of admiration for our holocaust survivor grandparents and appreciation for those keeping their traditions alive here in America.

After an epic business trip full of clients existing and likely, unexpected weather turned today upside down as a storm the length of our country attacked the east coast with ice pellets and gusty winds until evening. Foul. Consolation prize was a hot americano, late checkout, a lunch with one of my newer favorite friends, and his country club as a homebase until the weather cleared this evening. But why would my phone NOT STOP VIBRATING while I’m trying to enjoy a chill catch-up lunch with him? Frustrating, until mortifying.

Eventually apologetically throwing my hands in the air, I yanked my phone out of my pocket and I saw the SMS notices of lockdowns for both of my kid’s schools. One of which is just miles from the location of today’s unthinkable act. What I would have paid for Scotty to beam me up and over, or better them to me. The weather eventually cleared an hour ago, and DoorDash catered something nourishing for my trip home.

But my favorite wispy sunset clouds followed by stars and city lights, sashimi and yacht rock can’t cast the slightest ray of sun on my wish to just be home with my wife and kids. Now. To all my friends and neighbors, and especially the kids and teachers, my heart goes out to everyone in our community. No doubt that fear spanned every religion, race and ethnicity today.