Back to the Motherland: September 2013

Most of the time I can't keep track of which updates I've given to whom, especially since things change not daily but hourly (and sometimes more frequently than that). If someone asks, my tendency these days is to simply report on what the status is right NOW instead of anything/everything leading up to now. It's going to change again in a few minutes anyway. (Am I talking about my personal situation or life in general? Yes.) My benefactor/roommie Chris said he envisions me getting to work every day and strapping on a seat belt. It's a fairly accurate description.

So, right now: Dubai is still on the table for a TDY. It was a definite, then merely a maybe (the ambassador "still needed convincing"), then a definite again (we convinced him!)...until mass confusion ensued between the two government agencies responsible for me regarding how all the logistics are to be handled. Over a week was devoted to applying for my official passport, being told that one cannot carry both an official and a diplomatic passport, being told I can travel to Dubai on my dip passport after all, and getting my dip passport back from the Egyptians (who were still "processing" my visa) in order to apply for a UAE visa.

My administrative staff consists of 3 ladies who have my back 100%. They want Dubai to happen as much as I do. I can't really blame anyone for the mass confusion, but I will say my ladies seem to know exactly what's going on and they spend most of their time trying to explain it to everyone else. More power to them. This is an unprecedented situation for the IP Attaché program, not made any less complicated by the ever-changing political climate in the region (the US embassy in Beirut was evacuated a few days ago ahead of our possible military action in Syria). The fact that no one can agree on who needs to approve/pay for/make all necessary arrangements for this TDY does not surprise or phase me in the least. I am eerily devoid of emotion on the subject. I have learned to not pack or move anything until I have a physical plane ticket in my hand. But even then I probably won't be convinced of anything until I'm on the ground in Dubai, and even then nothing is for sure. It is the ultimate lesson in flexibility.

Because an early September departure to Dubai was looking less and less likely, I decided to fly home to Florida for Labor Day Weekend to surprise Granny on her 92nd birthday. I paused only slightly when considering the potential physical consequences of surprising a 92-year-old. I told a handful of friends I was coming home, even keeping Mom out of the loop (although on some level I knew she knew). My boo Eddie picked me up from the airport, we had dinner with friends, and I had the whole surprise planned out in my head, timed perfectly for when Mom, Granny and great aunt Sal pulled into the driveway from dinner. (Seriously - you would think the last year of my life would have taught me to not make plans and to not get attached to outcomes.) Needless to say the surprise did not go how I had envisioned it, but it was a successful surprise nonetheless. I'm so grateful I was able to spend another birthday with Granny in person.

It was a fairly uneventful weekend, which was perfect. Murray was utterly beside himself when I walked in the door and he did not leave my side for four days. Heaven. I spent time with my dear (pregnant!) friend Joslyn and her husband Dave in their brand new gorgeous amazing house - mazel/mabrook! - and with my dear friend Laura and her husband Brice. L&B's last name is Duba so I hope to bring them semi-personalized souvenir T-shirts from Dubai. Mom, Granny, Sal, Murray and I spent Labor Day out at the lake with the Dunegans, my bonus family, and Mom went out on the Jet Ski while the rest of us ate birthday cake. It was delightful.

Back here on the ranch in DC the weather is unseasonably amazing so the whole city is taking advantage of it, and I'm writing this from the front porch, naturally. We spent most of the weekend outside: at an outdoor concert on the river, on Lil & Wayne's front stoop, and on one of those Potomac River dinner cruises to celebrate our friend Libby's birthday - it was never on my bucket list and you wouldn't know it from the picture, but I had a really great time!

Tomorrow is Monday...fasten your seat belts and stay tuned. Deep breaths, one thing at a time, everything is as it should be :)