David S. Demarest

My break from work of three months – one might call it a sabbatical – is about to end.  Today I return to work.

In late May, after returning home from overseas, I promised to write some closing words on my travels.  To facilitate doing so, I would like to start first with some specific comments relating to the places I visited, and then close with some more general comments about my time away from work.

When I first wrote about this trip, I had commented that Tibet and Nepal were of particular interest.  As it turned out, I visited neither.  The option of visiting Tibet was taken away by the Chinese, and the decision to not visit Nepal was a choice I made.  In hindsight, the loss of the Tibet portion was significant, as it effectively took away the only really structured part of the trip and left me traveling independently for a much longer time than planned.  As it turned out, that was hard for me.

The change of plans caused me to enter India via Kolkata, which given the high heat and humidity was a poor introduction (for me) to India.  Right or wrong, I think Kolkata set the tone for the entire week in India and was directly involved in my decision to leave India early and not venture into Nepal.

It is said that things work out the way they do for a reason.  By leaving early, and not going to Jaipur from New Delhi, I missed the bombings that killed 80 and injured more than 200.  Of course, if I had gone to Nepal from Darjeeling, I would have also missed the bombings.  Regardless of the reasons, I was feeling pressured in India and desirous of getting out.  So I got out.

I have been asked if I would go back to India.  My answer is yes.  I still think it is a fascinating country, with many areas I would like to visit.  I am inclined to think I would do so with the assistance of some sort of tour – perhaps a week through the Golden Triangle – and then a week independently into northwestern India and possibly Nepal.  I would also find a cooler time of year in which to visit!

It was in India I decided to come home early.  In New Delhi, knowing I was leaving, June 10 seemed a long time away.  I was hot, uncomfortable, and cranky.  I knew that if I wanted to change my flight home, it could not reasonably be done at the last moment.  I made the change effectively shortening my trip by the amount of time I would have spent on the tour with Gap Adventures through Tibet.  In hindsight, if I had waited a few more days until I arrived in Turkey before making the decision, I probably would not have shortened the trip – there is so much to see in Eastern Europe and I started to have a much better time!

My postings elaborate on my experiences in Eastern Europe.  There is no need for me to rehash those times here.  Suffice it to say, the experience was great and I am ready to go again!  Sally and I are already talking about a trip to Turkey, Greece, Croatia and Austria next year.

I have also been asked if I am glad to have done the trip.  The answer is a resounding yes!  Obviously there were disappointments, but overall the experience was one I am happy to be able to reflect back on.  Good or bad, we learn and grow from our experiences.

While my trip overseas was a big part of my three months off, it is not all that I did or experienced.  There was the week in Mexico with Sally, a week in Colorado with my cousin Pete, and a week in Idaho at the Diamond D Ranch.  All good times.

During my three months, there was also the unexpected passing of my father-in-law, Jerry, more formally known as Vice Admiral Jerome H. King Jr. 

In mid-June, Sally and I flew south to the LA area to attend the graduation of her niece Melissa from Cal-Tech with her PhD.  Sally’s family – including her dad Jerry, stepmom, sisters, and one nephew – all gathered in Pasadena for the festivities.  We had a great dinner Thursday evening, and all attended the graduation ceremonies the next morning.  It was after the ceremony, while walking back to the car, that Jerry collapsed and was taken by EMS to Huntington Memorial Hospital where he died a short time later. 

Over the past year, Jerry had been suffering from bouts of pneumonia and had grown increasingly weak.  In hindsight, perhaps the strain and heat of graduation was too much, but knowing Jerry, he wasn’t going to miss it!  A tragic and unexpected ending, but one surrounded by those he loved and without the days, weeks, or months of suffering that could have been.

In late July we will travel again to southern California for a celebration of Jerry’s life.  And in September, we will travel to Washington D.C. for Jerry’s burial with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

My three months have been full.  In addition to travel, chores were accomplished at home, and the sale of a family owned apartment building was completed largely ending the process of dealing with my dad and Peggy’s estates.

As I head back to the office I wonder how I will adjust.  Will the issues I raised in my earlier writing be resolved?  Or is it time for me to seek other pursuits?  I had hoped that those answers would become clear during my time away, but it seems more likely those answers will be found following my return.  While I had hopes for what some might call a revelation, or perhaps a moment of clarity in which the answer appeared, it did not happen.   At least not yet.