I fastened my cufflinks, put on my new British grey, er, black suit, poured myself a stiff belt of booze I brought discreetly through customs and settled in with my noise-cancelling Bose headphones to listen to my favourite Apple Music playlist and read, read, read.
Wow, I had a lot to read: The Economist, Forbes, Wired, New Scientist, the Times of London. Such important information directly attached to my so important job. They can pile up and pile up and clog the hard drive, these mags. Leaves little to relax with Palm Springs Life, Arizona Highways, Sunset, Electric Bike Action, Popular Mechanics, Marine Traffic – Ship Tracking. So little time, so many things happening in our wide world.
But it’s a world I have seen, too. Let me tell you.
China, for instance. Was that a great trip! Ate and ate and ate, so much that I even had to file per diem above and beyond the meals hospitably served.
And click, click, click. So many things to photograph with that fabulous new camera, all the bells and whistles, tripod, nice case, lots of memory cards to go with my home outfit of Mac gear.
And jolly old England. Smashing! All those ex-bigwigs, telling us tall tales about security this, security that, worry this, worry that. MI5. Any second, expected Daniel Craig to walk in.
You know, the clothes are so, so different there, you just got to reach into a wallet and get your fill. So fashion-forward, those eye-catching ties. Not like those Brooks Brothers ties, er, tabs – right, tabs, you know, for the office uniform.
Beautiful trinket boxes there, too. Bought a nice brooch, bought the boss a watch. Pretty sure I made an impression.
Buddy lost his passport, had to take the train back to Edinburgh to get it. Phew! Quick thinking! At least he went first class, poor fella, must have been sweating through his grey suit. (Can’t believe he’s still in school, all that travelling a little strange for an online course, but hey, I’ve seen worse.)
And it’s not like there aren’t great sights and scenes for my work right under my nose. Love this place. The whale watching! And while we’re talking ocean, how about those Mariners, hitting the tar out of the ball at Safeco Field, that 7-6 nail-biter over the Orioles? What a game. Glad I could bring 12 others to share in the experience. Long, hard day, too: hotel to the capital, back to the stadium for a tour and back to the hotel. Yikes! All these “business continuity” events break your back.
I like to get around the province, mind you. Love that Okanagan. Who doesn’t? Takes a toll on the car – thankfully, my gas is very, very well covered – but it’s worth it to see those wineries. Give me New World over Old World any time – well, except when I’m seeing the Old World. But I love that Painted Rock, especially those classy wooden boxes to house the bottles. Can’t have enough of them!
Wish I had more receipts, mind you. Can’t have enough of them, either. Where do they go when you’re so, so busy, with so much unexpected work? Don’t even have time to take holidays. Have to take cash in lieu. Hardly fair!
Love staying in touch, too, sharing a meal and footing the bill for old buds. They did so much for me, least I can do.
Can’t wait, really can’t wait, for retirement. Now that will be a load off the old loafers. Saved and saved and saved over the years, generous boss who barely squawked when I needed a little extra to look after my horizon years. Good insurance policy. It’s such a relief to look after others when I’m not looking after myself.
Like the wood splitter. I know, I know, the neighbours couldn’t figure it out. Hardly anyone could.
Just you wait, though. One day there will be a storm, all sorts of big and important things will collapse and splinter, our history in tatters, and it will feel like the sky has fallen. And you will be sorry you never paid attention for years and years.•
Kirk LaPointe is editor-in-chief of Business in Vancouver and vice-president, editorial, of Glacier Media.
