Tevas to Wingtips…
Saturday, February 28th, 2009Had a farewell dinner with Dad and Ellen before they left for the left coast. I’ve gotta say that my father’s taste in wine is very good – every bottle he broke out this visit was spot on. We drank a bottle of New Zealand Marlborough Cab Sauvignon this time and it was eminently drinkable.
Dad and Ellen quizzed me about my work prospects…particularly as a dinner with a senior person at my once and prospective employer cancelled on me. The dinner wasn’t 100% critical path, but I wasn’t thrilled it was cancelled, even though the reason was logistics. I was wondering what I could do to accelerate the process.
Checked email right after dinner. Had sent an email to my contact in Mumbai, telling him I was a little nervous about the likelihood of the Mumbai gig, and was likely to expand my job search. He replied quickly, told me to hold my horses, and asked if I could be in India March 6th. Hmmm – that sounded like real progress. I went upstairs and told Dad and Ellen – they seemed happy for me. It wasn’t as if I had moved home, not at all…still, I’m 41 years old and they were probably wondering if I’d be a homeless vagabond forever. I do think Dad wants me home (more) often…and is a bit sad that I’m off again. But this seems to be my destiny and I’ll follow it until it makes sense otherwise…
Got a call later that night from my primary contact in Mumbai, following up on the email. Better and better – we’d be seeing each other in Boston the following week, and would probably be able to formalize things, at least for the next few months – good enough.
When I got this call I was walking to Newton Center to meet Alex, my old buddy from b-school. It was raining, I had my umbrella out and my mobile in a Ziploc bag…answering the call in the rain was a bit of a pain. A premonition of running around in the summertime Indian monsoon??
Next morning, before I got up, Dad and Ellen went to Logan for their California trip. House felt very empty, but I was heading off that weekend as well. Packed my bags and en route to Logan, met friend Bill at Crossroads in Boston. Had a good time catching up for a couple hours, then Bill took me to the airport.
Am typing this entry in a hurry so will at some point go back and fill in the details of my weekend trip. Came back in one piece – that’s good enough for now.
Managed to watch the Oscars Sunday night. I don’t know if I’ve ever really sat down and watched the show…I enjoy movies but am generally not a ‘starfucker.’ But I quite enjoyed it – I thought Hugh Jackman did a great job (although some critics felt otherwise), and I thought the entire presentation was classy and nostalgic. A few things I recall from the show:
-Jennifer Aniston and Jack Black – mismatched pair. Didn’t really work.
-Sarah Jessica Parker and Daniel Craig – ditto. Valley Girl and cold fish Brit.
-Was happy that Heath Ledger won his category.
-Wow, Slumdog Millionaire kicked some ass. Good time to be heading to India…
-In all, the Oscars were a very nice distraction from the rec(depr)ession.
Have been plowing through a slew of old New Yorkers. Saw an AIG add touting their dependability and ability to reduce your financial stress – amazing the difference a few months make.
Had lunch with friend Charles, at Davio’s in Boston. We always meet there for lunch…this time it was eerily quiet. Traded our usual insults, gossip and rumors, then parted. Walked over to Loew’s Theater on Tremont Street to see The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke. Got a call from Art, formerly of Budapest, now hanging out in Portland, Oregon. He’s thinking about heading down to New Mexico in an Airstream and establishing a sort of commune there, far from civilization and officialdom. Sounds intriguing – I wished him well and might try to visit him once he stakes his claim…
The Wrestler was pretty entertaining – but I couldn’t believe how badly Mickey Rourke has aged. I’d heard a bit about his disastrous boxing career, but hadn’t appreciated how badly he’d been beaten – and then, allegedly, mangled by a plastic surgeon. It took a real effort on my part to detect Mickey Rourke’s youthful visage under that mass of scars. I suppose his story is one of redemption, but I can’t help but look at him and grimace…he used to be known for his looks.
Before the movie, during the previews, there was a US Army recruiting video that was just hideous. It featured Kid Rock performing a song entitled (I believe) ‘Warrior’ or ‘American Warrior’ and whatever it was called, it was cringeworthy. No thinking person with any other career options would consider entering the armed forces after watching this clip.
Watched the news and saw a couple Obama photo opps, including one in which he and McCain banter about Obama’s presidential copter and how much it costs. Obama was in good humor, and McCain was respectful – interesting dynamics there. It does seem to me that Obama’s already looking a bit older, from merely one month on the job…
Paid a visit to the HQ of my former employer, to discuss the potential Mumbai posting. Wanted to look decent, so wore wingtips, a blazer and borrowed Dad’s cashmere winter overcoat – which fit me nicely. Dad, in case I forget to thank you in person – thanks. Meetings went very well and I signed a contract, so I’m back in the working world as of early March. Everything went pretty much according to plan…I had met the Mumbai team in early December, and we’d agreed to try to close the deal by early March. Lots of work on both sides to make that happen, but we did it, and now I’m employed and back in the fold. And perfectly pleased, to be candid – the new gig is intriguing and I’m looking forward to getting going on it. More on this in a minute…
One of the two HQ front desk receptionists recognized me straightaway, including my name. I appreciated that (and, for what it’s worth, I certainly remembered her). The other front desk woman sort of remembered me, and didn’t remember my name. Typical for her. Not that I was around all that much once I moved overseas…but some people are good about these things and some aren’t. Far better to be in the former category, methinks…
After the meetings, rented a car and did a few errands. Tracked down some Teva sandals (not easy to find these in February in New England) at a sporting goods store, stopped to see my sister at her office, had a doctor’s appointment, then returned to Boston to have dinner with a (former and now current) colleague from the Mumbai office.
Noticed my Avis rental car has Texas plates. Weird. Also noticed that there’s a currency exchange booth on the 2nd floor of the Cambridge Galleria Mall. Who on earth is exchanging currency in this spot? Looks like a lonely little booth…
After the dinner, noticed that it wasn’t that late, so drove over to the Loew’s Tremont cinema and watched the late screening of The Reader, starring Oscar winner Kate Winslet. Powerful movie – was about the aftermath of the Holocaust, but also had a fairly deep intergenerational relationship angle. It dragged on a bit, but I thought it worked pretty well and I thought about it for a while after it was over – I guess that’s one mark of an effective film. Made me feel melancholy and a bit depressed – even more than usual.
Next morning, while checking my email, got a call from Dad – he had just learned that Ellen’s dad, who’s 92, had taken a turn for the worse. Awful news. Dad and Ellen came back from California during the afternoon, and now everyone’s on pins and needles. So much flux in life, it seems – life and death, work and play, old and young. I’m getting ready to write a new chapter in the story of my life…but mine’s not the only story, and it gets complicated when lines intersect. I asked Dad to call if there was any news, then did a few errands and drove west, first to my storage facility to rotate some clothes, then to my sister’s in Hopkinton to spend the night.
Whenever I go to the storage room I’m a bit cranky – I generally hate stuff and dislike moving things around. But this time it really sunk in how little I actually own in this world. Most of my possessions are books…and I have a decent slew of clothes…and beyond that, it’s mostly photos, luggage, and knick-knacks. I found it reassuring to realize I don’t own much and don’t have to devote much time to managing it.
Had fun seeing my nephew and niece. My nephew is 5 and by all appearances shares my youthful propensity for potty talk and for words that aren’t part of any known language. My niece is only 9 months but already seems to be developing a distinct personality – I’m looking forward to seeing how she goes.
Had a good talk with my brother-in-law, along with a few beers, before hitting the sack. Watched a History Channel program on heavenly bodies hitting the Earth and causing Armageddon (see Har Megiddo, Israel). Fairly entertaining – although Dave didn’t sound pleased when I told him I’d be OK with a large asteroid hitting Fox News…
In the morning my nephew asked me if I was going to my home. Errr…..
Drove back to Newton. Still no word on my step-grandfather. Went to his place, down the street from Dad & Ellen’s condo, to see him. He was lucid for a few minutes, then drifted off to sleep. Hard to watch things like this, but at least he’s had a great life and isn’t leaving any unfinished business. Still, there’s never a good time to go…
Dropped off my Avis car downtown. While waiting in line I fished into a pocket of my blazer and found an old Cathay Pacific boarding pass, from 2005, for a Tokyo-HKG flight. Funny.
Took the T (subway) over to East Cambridge, and sat in a cab with the senior guy who heads up India for my once/current employer. Talked for 25 minutes as we rode to Logan Airport, he got out, and I sat there while the cab took me back to town. That was the only time slot he had available – quite short, but it was important that we at least meet, and got the ball rolling.
Went and saw my accountant. Nice clean tax situation this year – I actually had a small net gain on my trades, along with some dividends, but the gains were small enough to be offset by my deducations. So I owed zip, and also didn’t realize a net loss – which was psychologically important, and didn’t leave me with losses to carry forward – I was OK with that. Of course, I have plenty of unrealized losses, but don’t plan to touch those until things turn around. Any estimates on when that might happen??
Met old colleague/friend Bansi for dinner that night. Went to the Butcher Shop in the South End – we’d been there once before, a couple years ago. Had tons to talk about, most prominently my coming back on board with the firm. Bansi had been saying good things about me to various colleagues, and that had eased my re-entry – my brand was still fairly strong and he’d helped with that. We also talked about the team in Mumbai and the work they’re doing – we need to bring him over one of these days, I think there’s some synergy with what he’s doing, which is heading up the firm’s Innovation Group. I also want to hear much more about their work…
Moved over to the Mandarin Oriental for a late drink(s)…Bansi had bought a condo there and had moved in recently. Very chic place – L’Espalier had moved there, and there was a lively bar downstairs. Nice addition to the Boston scene. I had a couple Maker’s Marks, Bansi had wine – he knows the staff there and they treat him wonderfully. Bansi can be a real social operator and man about town – he knows people at the best places. I just tag along and try to keep up. Hanging out with him is quite a (nice) change from the downmarket life I’ve been leading on the road. But I’m skilled at changing speeds and think I can fit in nearly anywhere…in a dark Cochin bar sipping feni, or in L’Espalier in the Mandrin, sipping Maker’s Mark. In fact, that’s very likely my signature skill – you could parachute me into a sketchy place and I’d probably be thriving in a couple days.
So I was now well and truly on the path back to work and gainful employment. It had been quite a chapter in my life – a departure from work 3 years ago, when I was exhausted and not feeling all that healthy, nearly 3 years of travel and adventure, and now back to work, in a group and place that seem to be a nice fit and offering a more reasonable lifestyle than I had years ago. In my entry next week I’ll devote some time to lessons learned during my travels and now, during my transition back to work – I want to let this change sink in a bit more. I’ll also throw out a top 20-25 list of favorite memories and experiences…and would be more than happy to get your comments about what stood out for you as you’ve stuck with the slog and read about my perambulations. So stay tuned for those – and as I’ve mentioned, I’m keeping the slog going, but as a matter of course it will feel different going forward. I’ll do my best to keep it entertaining and informative.
Had some docs to read and a work-related call on Friday. Officially I’m back on board on March 1, Sunday, but this is the sort of gig that isn’t bound by dates or hours of the day. Went over to see my step-grandfather, who’s holding up OK, but is getting visibly weaker.
It was 60 degrees Fahrenheit, so went out for my first run in a week. Nice change from the grey skies and near-freezing weather here. Then headed over to Central Square in Cambridge for a date with the Korean-American woman I’d met on New Year’s Day at the Golden Gate Hostel, in Jerusalem. On the subway ride I finished reading a back issue of The New Yorker – one of the articles was about medical marijuana in California, an industry that’s burgeoning. One of the semi-legal dispensaries is called the Farmacy. Pretty funny.
Bansi had recommended Craigie on Main, a resto that used to be near Porter Square but had recently moved to Central Square, into a building formerly occupied by an old favorite of mine, La Groceria. Was sad to see La gone from the scene, but Craigie was terrific – and crowded. Nearly ran there from the T stop to ensure that we could get bar seats – managed to get the last two seats at 6:45 p.m. Jeewon showed up a bit after 7 p.m., and it turned out that sitting at the bar worked fine – casual and not too intimate.
We caught each other up on our respective travels – she’d been to Syria and Jordan besides Israel, and I had my slew of settings to tell her about. She’s an industrial designer, talked about her work and also about my new gig in Mumbai. Fun date. I think we’ll see each other again when I’m back here in May for my 20th university reunion.
That’s it for this week. Gotta get ready for my move to Mumbai. Heard that a major snowstorm will hit the Boston area on Sunday/Monday, just in time to screw up my flights. Ugh. May need to take evasive action, and perhaps head down to NYC a day or half-day earlier to try and miss the storm. I’ll have a bunch of bags with me, so am not looking forward to moving around a lot, but will do what’s necessary – in India, they use the funny phrase ‘do the needful.’ Time to do the needful, friends – see you next week, from Mumbai. Over and out.
mbsloney