We returned from our R&R to the United States in early May to a change in seasons. Burma’s hot, dry weather had given way rather abruptly to the equally hot but much rainier monsoon season, about a month earlier than I had expected. After just one day of overlap in the office, my boss departed for his own R&R in the United States for a few weeks. As I assumed the acting position, I was keenly aware that the countdown of our last 100 days at post was just getting underway.
I felt stretched pretty thin for most of May. I had hoped the workload in the consular section would be lighter during my boss’s absence, but that wasn’t the case.
Instead, we dealt with two mysterious and tragic U.S. citizen death cases in quick succession. Each was complicated in its own way and required considerable time and emotional energy to work through. One of the deceased was well known to nearly everyone on our team, adding another difficult dimension to the experience. It also prompted me to reflect on how close death has felt during this tour in particular, during the very week marking the six-month anniversary of my accident.
Other, happier milestones abounded. While my eldest stepdaughter celebrated her first month of marriage, my youngest marked her college graduation — a ceremony we attended virtually.
As the fruit trees in our yard began to burst with nearly ripe bananas and jackfruit, PCS season began for some at post. Two of our colleagues departed permanently, one on short notice. The timing wasn’t lost on me. Just as the fruit seemed to ripen almost overnight, their departures also seemed to creep up unexpectedly. It was another reminder that 100 days can feel like an eternity while also passing so quickly that you never quite feel like you’ve caught up.
I also realized with a start that the visit of my mom and her friend from California was less than a month away. We’d already applied for their visas, talked about medevac insurance, and sketched out some broad contours — including plane tickets — of side trips to visit Bagan and Mandalay.
But as the days passed in a blur of taskers and casework, and the need to finalize hotels, tour guides, and activities pressed on me, I spent many long evenings in the office racing the clock, trying to put together something that would make their trip memorable. After two domestic flight changes due to the ongoing jet fuel crisis in the country, I was starting to wonder if all my carefully laid plans would just fall apart in the end.
I made it through the month with only a couple of beloved pool days to rest, recharge, and recover from my regularly scheduled life. But as June arrived, I was ready for a little fun.
Collecting Postcards 