April 1, 2011 by Sarah
And Suspenseful it was! I don’t think I’ve experienced anything quite like it. The kids and I were all ready to go about 4 hours before the actual event, so we went for a bite to eat and sat in the car playing on my iphone while Helen took her nap. I got slightly lost- which I am again blaming the Garmin for. I think that woman has it out for me! I mean really, she is always telling me that I am arriving at a destination just after I pass the entrance, and then when I am actually at my destination (like I’m in the parking lot for Target) she tells me, “recalculating. turn left in 400 yards.” I think it all goes back to when Travis first bought her as a replacement for me, his ever-faithful navigator, for those times when I’m not actually in the car with him. Wait, I think I sound jealous. I’m not. I am a far superior navigator to that piece of work.
But I digress.
We eventually arrived, managed to park in the correct lot and even made it to the right building. On the projection screen were the words, “Welcome to Flag Day!” YEA!!!!!!!! It felt a little surreal to me. I had read others’ blogs about their flag days, and I remember how cool I thought the whole thing was when I first learned that they actually give you the flag of the country you are being sent to. And it was just that cool. Cooler, even. There were close to 70 candidates getting their assignments with Travis, 19 of whom are fellow facility managers. The list of places we were given to prioritize had 20 locations on it. We had carefully made a list of what was important to our family for this first assignment, both as a family and considering Travis’ career path. So we had picked 4 places that were our “top” another 8 or so that were our “middles” and the remaining were places that we really had no interest in for now.
The class had chosen one of their own to speak and Philip did a great job. He wasn’t too long, he made us all laugh and he even had a few wise words- namely to enjoy the now even as we are planning and waiting on the future. But of course the big event was the giving of the assignments.
On the screen flashed a country’s flag: Macedonia. It was one of our top choices. I held my breath. The announcement was made: “Being sent to Macedonia, as a Facility Manager, soandso.” Not us.
And on the flags went. 30 flags. 40 flags. I listened as our top choices were all assigned save for one– our top one. Surely we won’t get it.
What if we get one of the bottoms? It will be fine. We’ll make it be fine.
Please God don’t let us get the ones on the bottom of our list.
OO- there’s one from the bottom. Sounds like a cool country, I guess I could live there for a few years. Whew! Not us.
And then finally a flag is on the screen. It’s the last one from our top preferences. I quickly try to remember if there are any from our middle list available anymore, just in case his name isn’t called.
His name IS called! Yay!!!!! Yippee!!!!!
I couldn’t help myself. I jumped up and I think I actually squealed. In a public place. With an Ambassador in the room. With Travis’ co-workers and possible bosses in the room.
But, I was so HAPPY! I am SO HAPPY!
We are going to……
Moscow!