Whew! What a Year!!!
From May 2016 to August 2017 Loy was on a sabbatical to study real-life business communications, with the purpose of revamping the curriculum for this class at Wesleyan.
As near as I can figure, I visited 26 states and Canada and Loy says I travelled 35,000 miles. (He took a few trips without me, so his numbers are much more impressive!!) We visited many dear friends from our past (and present!), attended Paul and Beth's engagement party AND their wedding, saw the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, I took eight social work classes, said "Good Bye" to Loy's father, bought a new beach house, and sold our old house, among many other accomplishments. We used Loy's truck, AMTRAK, airplanes, and boats for our modes of transportation. (Nope, no camels.) We got probably 10 free nights of hotels off of Hotels.com, which sounds really good but, of course, to get those we had to buy 100 nights!! Yikes! We visited:
Dallas, Texas (four times)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota (multiple times)
Portland, Oregon
Scottsdale, Arizona
Springdale, Arkansas
Locust Grove, Oklahoma
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Howell, Michigan
Kearney, Nebraska
Little Gasparilla Island, Florida
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Door County, Wisconsin
York, Nebraska
Elkhorn, Nebraska
Papillion, Nebraska
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Probably other places I forget right now!
Loy also threw in a trip to Maryland and England!
What did I learn?
1. I can do all this while taking a full-time class load if I'm overly organized. It may mean reading Biology in Phoenix or taking an online quiz in Pittsburgh, but it's possible. Thank you, Technology. Also, I am one of those amazingly annoying non-traditional students who actually do the assignments and discuss and read the textbook and never skip class.
2. After spending 10 straight days totally together with the love of my life, it may be best to keep my mouth shut. One conversation somewhere in Ohio:
Loy: It seems like you're arguing with everything I say.
Me: No, I'm not.
Me: And, by the way, you are too.
Later...
Loy: Blah, blah, blah. (Well, actually, he said something but I can't for the life of me remember what the topic was right now.)
Kitt: (Holdling lips tightly together. Biting them from he inside. All because I realize I want to argue with him right now.)
Loy: You're holding back right now, aren't you???
Kitt: Look at that red truck there...isn't that interesting?
Loy: Go ahead...say it.
Kitt: Heavy traffic, isn't it?
(I'm obviously trying to change the subject, but he's having nothing to do with that option.)
Loy: What is it? (read with exasperation in your voice)
Kitt: Loy, we've been together 24/7 for 10 days. I think it's best I don't say anything right now.
Silence.
3. AMTRAK can be on time. All the way to Oregon we were within minutes of the ETA for every single station. Guess the line going through Lincoln is the one that is always late. That's why we drove to Minneapolis and took a northern route!
3. When traveling overnight on AMTRAK, spring for the deluxe room. It actually has a couch and a chair and, most importantly, YOUR OWN BATHROOM. This is very vital. And, really, does not add too much to the total cost of your ticket.
Also, on AMTRAK (am I getting paid for a promotion???) you are treated like a special guest. And, food in the restaurant is included in the price (The food, BTW, is not half bad. Not a big selection to choose from and they seat you with other travelers, but a good experience.)
4. Do not walk from the Portland train station to the hotel, even if it's just a mile. You will be walking through a homeless village.
5. With good friends you can just pick up and enjoy each other's company even if it's been years and years.
6. Thousand Islands, NY, is very beautiful. But, people really spend lots and lots of money on things that will just deteriorate.
7. The 9/11 Memorial in Pennsylvania is very meaningful.
8. We like NORTH Captiva Island better than Little Gasparilla Island (in Florida).
9. Going to church with friends across the country is really great. God is at work all over.
10. I don't understand Tim Horton restaurants...are they meals or are they donuts???
11. I really enjoy time alone at home.
12. There's no place like home.
Things Loy learned:
1. Recent graduates do not make big presentations (as a rule) in their jobs because no one really cares what they think. They do more short, announcement-type speaking.
2. People overestimate how important/interesting their own powerpoint slides are. Too many words.
3. NWU grads are doing pretty well in the business world. And they are spread out all over the country.
4. When you live on a lake, you don't spend as much time down on the beach as you do when you vacation on a lake.
5. Even on sabbatical, students track you down to ask advising questions.
But, now the year has ended. I'm back to school. Loy's back to school. His report has been submitted. His curriculum and assignments for Business Communications has been updated and improved.
And we didn't kill each other.
So, no more sabbaticals for six years. Wonder what and where he'll study then???
Talk to you soon!
Love,
Kitt.
