Tag Archives: home

Home Vacation

9 December 2010

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I will be working this Christmas. However, I cannot really complain too much, as the last time I was on-call on Christmas day was more than 5 years ago. It’s bound to happen.

Before I turned green and become a Grinch, I decided to take a holiday off a couple of weeks early than the real Holiday season. We did not go anywhere in particular for my week’s vacation though. Instead I just cooled my heels at home, hang out with my kids all day (they are home-schooled), and be a full day teacher and child care for a few days. Moreover,  I spent a couple of late nights watching movies at home with my wife, after the kids are tucked-in in their beds.

I also did some things around the house that needs fixing. But before you admire my handyman’s skills, what I meant fixing, was replacing a couple of lightbulbs. I helped with some Christmas decorating in our home too, which includes bringing the Christmas tree home from the farm, and hanging lights in our roof (yes roof!) using my newly bought (I got myself for Christmas) versatile and “complicated” ladder that turns into 4 different positions (you can fall from this ladder more than 4 different ways too!). And shopping? I left that to my wife, while I watched the kids.

I would say that overall, my week off was one of the more relaxed vacation that I had for a while, not to mention less expensive too. This just proved that we don’t need to go anywhere “special” for vacation for it to be enjoyable. What matters is whom we spend it with.

Home Again

15 October 2010

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After 14 days of being on the road, and about 2500 miles of driving, we are finally back home. We slept 1 night in Illinois, 4 nights in Maryland/Washington DC, 6 nights in New Jersey/New York, 1 night in Pennsylvania, and 1 night in Indiana. Thank goodness I’m sleeping in my own bed tonight!

It is interesting that part of our trip involved going back to places we used to call home. This includes driving around the neighborhoods where we lived before: 2 apartments in Morristown, New Jersey, 1 in Elmhurst area of Queens, New York, and 1 in upper East side of New York, New York. But the best feeling I got is when we pulled into our driveway tonight, here in Iowa.

I guess, this is home.

 

Home Oasis

9 August 2010

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I was on-call this past weekend, and last Friday I got home past 8 PM. The dinner table was already set when I arrived, and my wife and kids greeted me cheerfully. My wife sat with me in the table even though she and the kids ate already (I called earlier and told them to eat without me as I knew I will be late), just to keep me company.

I have not warmed my seat yet at the table and just had a couple of bites of my food when my beeper went off. As I stood up to make a call, my beeper went off again. And again. In a span of a few minutes I learned that I had 3 more admissions, 2 of those into the ICU. The ICU admits are both young, one 18-year-old, and one 29-year-old. Both were very sick. I knew I have to go back to the hospital.

I just finished my dinner (a finished meal is sometimes a luxury when I’m on-call), and I left home again. It was way past midnight when I was able to drive back home. I was happy to see that our porch and driveway lights are on when I arrived home. It was reassuring to know that I was expected and somebody kept the lights on for me.

After I washed and changed clothes, I crawled into bed weary and exhausted. I was surprised to find that my wife, even though she was in bed, stayed awake waiting for me. Her loving embrace dissolved all my weariness and fatigue away. This more than makes up for a grueling day. I am truly blessed to have a home oasis.

Just give me a couple of hours of sleep, and with the tender loving care I get from home, I will be ready to face another long day. And whatever arduous work is thrown my way, I know what is waiting for me, by the end of the day.