MC

smiles, miles, and memories

When a DoD (assumably everyone else within the federal government does the same) employee finishes a travel duty assignment, one files a voucher for reimbursement. The final block in the list of details on where and when travel occurred says ‘MC’, or Mission Complete.

We reached Mission Complete this afternoon when we got home after 3 1/2 weeks on travel but we aren’t going to fill out a voucher. The proximate reason for the whole thing was to visit Bangkok for my reunion but I hoped to do more as I wanted to see how fifty years had treated classmates (better than I expected in most cases). I wanted to see the new International School of Bangkok, campus and curriculum and all, which blew me away. I wanted to understand how Thais fare in this era of massive competition between the United States and China. China and the United States are certainly important in Thailand but the country remains ‘the Land of Smiles’: one never knows precisely how the Thai policies will evolve yet everyone is so smiling all of the time.

Most importantly, I wanted to share all of this with my husband who did not attend ISB, did not share my desire to devour the wonderful red peppers I love so much anywhere and everywhere in the cuisine, and who remains the most amazing supporter of my many crazy whims or obsessions. He was ‘all in’ from the moment I cautiously mentioned the whole adventure last March. I think he enjoyed it; no, I know he did, especially the Reclining Buddha.

We are privileged in so many ways that neither of us take for granted. We saw Bangkok, renewed friendships, explored the gorgeous sites for which the intricate Thai culture is known, especially along the banks of the Chao Phraya as it flows through the metropolis. I thank all those who put in such effort to make this reunion by almost 200 ISBings, as we are known, possible. We then took in medicinal sunshine in Hawai’i, a place he knows far better than me but that is so good for us to take photographs, paint, and read (then again, we read pretty much everywhere).

It wasn’t intended to be around the globe but it turned out to be the cheapest way. Thailand, I figured out when I got there in the 70s, is exactly halfway around the world from Annapolis so why not?

So, six long, long flights, several unforeseen changes in itinerary, more meals I didn’t cook than I care to count, and many smiles, we are back to our wonderful home in the Chesapeake. Thank you for going with us. It was an amazing adventure but, as I have done before, the good Midwesterner in my blood reminds us all that Dorothy and Toto had it right: there is no place like home.

Oh, especially when these two put us on report for being absent without permission.

Thank you for joining us and for reading Actions create consequences. I promised from day 1 there would be gratitude as well as the trials and tribulations.

Be well and be safe. FIN