This past winter took a serious tool on my health as I spent many more days ill than well. No matter what remedy I tried, I couldn’t shake off the lingering grip of my cold. By Chinese New Year, my outlook on life in Beijing looked bleak as I found myself telling friends, "I’m done with this place."
I longed for a vacation to anywhere with clean air and warm blue skies, but with the twins just at 1.5 years old, any trip would be more like work than a vacation. I kept dreaming, but figured the best I could do was sleep and pray for an early spring.
All of that changed in mid February when Savvy’s company needed her to travel again just two weeks after returning from a five day conference in Santa Monica, California. This time the conference was taking place in Phuket, Thailand. I’m no genius, but I’ve noticed the beach theme to her "business" trips.
Perhaps spotting the green in my eyes or simply out of pity for my tortured frame, Savvy asked if I would like to join her. After a heated discussion about what to do about the children, we realized that we couldn’t leave Reina behind without upsetting her and we couldn’t take the twins. In the end we decided Reina and I would join Savvy if the ayis agreed to overnight at our place during the trip. We felt guilty about the idea of leaving the boys behind, but it was the only way we could make it work.
Five days later, the three of us boarded a China Air flight for Phuket. Somewhere over Thailand, it occurred to me that I am a horrible parent for abandoning my babies. But if I return healthy and in a better mood, it will almost be worth the suppressed feelings of guilt. Who am I kidding, it is totally worth it.
Photo by Christopher Lay
