My curmudgeon fears

I have a serious worry.

I joke about being a curmudgeon and stuck in my ways. I’ve never really been serious, but I’m starting to really wonder if I’m not becoming a crusty, ill-tempered, old man.

I’ve noticed a few signs. I seem to complain about more things than usual, telling young kids whenever I see them that when I was their age I had to walk three miles, uphill both ways to get to the school bus. I grumble under my breath about how low teens wear their jeans.

The biggest sign yet: I have to travel for work in the new year and I’ve been complaining about it ever since the need came up in a meeting. I’ve been such a sourpuss about it. If people didn’t know any better, to hear me talk, they would think I was getting root canal. Instead, I’ll fly on a direct flight to Atlanta, stay in a reasonably nice hotel, have my meals paid for, and then spend a week in person with the same people I spend most of my time online.

My expenses will be reimbursed, so what gives? I wish I knew, but I’ve been treating it like a big baby.

I love traveling for leisure. If my wife and I could get away, I’d travel several times a year to both domestic and international destinations. I would list out the places I would love to travel to, but the list is gigantic, I could be here for days listing out my preferred destinations. I love the excitement of being somewhere new. I’ve never traveled a ton for work, but have had my share of work trips over the years.

So, why the problem? I think it’s the difference between personal and professional travel. If it were for personal travel and my wife was going with me, then I could get excited about how we’re going to spend our time. Instead, I’m going to be by myself the whole time and the purpose is all about work.

So yes, bah-humbug.

Discover more from Writing from the Heart with Brian

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

47 thoughts on “My curmudgeon fears”

  1. Working from home turns us into unsociable beasts, I say!
    Some people loathe business trips, others enjoy them. I think it’s all about expectations and perceptions.
    Change your perspective and it will surely be a more pleasant experience.
    I, for one, would love to get out of the office and go somewhere for business!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Oh, I was a beast before the pandemic, so I can’t really blame covid or working from home. I guess that’s what strange to me is that I normally would say the same thing about me, that I would love to get away and go somewhere new. And yes, I do think you’re right, it’s all about perspective. I have to find a way to change mine. Ha, ha.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. So relatable…I think some of us enjoyed the ability to avoid work-related travel during Covid. I know folks who thrive being on the go, go, go and are literal ‘road warriors’ and I admire them. The only saving grace with work-related trips is the fun with colleagues. Maybe I need to share some tales about various mishaps and memorable moments to get your fun-o-meter engaged…🤣

    Like

  4. You sound like me, Brian! Relatable! This year I said no gifts but secret Santa and I’m not as grumbly but trying to cut a lot of people from the Xmas table lol. 😂
    Good luck with the trip. It sounds pretty good to me at the moment … a work escape… 🙏😎

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I’m with you on the business trip. We traveled to San Francisco for a client of my husband’s 75 birthday party. I had never met them or their other 80 guests. I guess I was uneasy, but set my sights on the time we’d get to spend with our kids and the historic hotel we stayed in. It turns out the party was wonderful. I met the kindest, nicest people. I’m sure it will work out well for you to be with your coworkers in person.

    Like

      1. Once you’re there you’ll be fine. At least that’s how this last trip worked out. My toughest week was when I went for a week’s training as a new financial advisor to corporate headquarters. Not only did they make us cold call for hours, they had us put together a proposal and videoed us giving the presentation to another broker who pretended to be a client. Painful!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh my goodness, how did you survive that? Poor you. You’ve just described my hell. When I was in finance, I was a writer, but my peers and I were still expected to help out when the market went beserk and phone volumes skyrocketed. I hated that. I knew a ton about finance, but I knew just enough to be deadly. Ugh. Ha, ha.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. It was a tough week. HQ sent the video to my boss and he asked if I wanted to watch it with him. Hard pass. But I met a couple nice people that week. I was a financial advisor for a couple years. I knew that the clients knew more than me, and I had to ask my husband who was in the business for 20 years every single little thing.

        Like

  6. I’ll gladly go on your trip for you! 😆 Do you have a garden hose and bench on your porch to hose the passing kids? If so, that’s another sign!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Guess I’m a curmudgeon too, because I love traveling with Tara but dread business trips — at least any involving airports and/or other coworkers. I did enjoy driving across South Dakota solo in the company vehicle when I worked at CenturyCo. Nowadays, luckily, I don’t have many (or any) business trips on my plate.

    Like

  8. I hear ya Ebenezer! 🤣😝😂 I used to feel the same when I was on the road two to three weeks out of the month for a job I previously had…and my dear husband was holding down the fort! I’m glad those days are behind me now, at least I hope so anyway! LOL Hang in there buddy. Just pretend you are enjoying their company and then write about it after the trip is over! ✍🏼

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Wait – can we talk about what a curmudgeon really looks like it? Isn’t that defined by when you no longer laugh at people’s Monty Python references? Or maybe when a sunrise doesn’t make you feel awed. I don’t think you’re there — no will you ever be. 🙂 ❤

    Like

    1. Maybe it’s the sarcasm, maybe it’s the great choice in movie titles (the life of Brian), but I’m obligated forever to laugh at all Monty Python references. If I stop laughing at “Tis but a scratch,” just shoot me right then and there. Ha, ha. I still have my curmudgeonly moments though. “Damn squirrels, get off my lawn.” Ha, Ha!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. You are the last thing from a bah-humbug, Brian. Age and accepting change are big factors, and we hang onto our personal lives like children hold onto their lovies.

    Like

  12. I’ve heard that people usually don’t love traveling for work so don’t feel lonely in that respect. Maybe try planning something exciting to do while you’re there that makes the trip worth it if everything else goes to shit?

    Liked by 1 person

  13. My husband used to travel a lot when we had young kids. I’m talking he’d get on a plane on Monday and land in San Jose on Friday! For years. He claims it was a drag but part of me knows getting out of the crazy house full of kids and an exhausted wife was appealing in it’s own way. I just wish I could have flown the coup once in a while. One of the things Larry did when he traveled is attend local sporting events. He loved that and it made the whole travel thing more fun. Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Some twenty years ago I met a travels salesman who traveled for work. I told him I wish I had a travel job. He then said, it’s mostly about dining alone in empty establishments. It took me many years to realize that he was right.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑

Discover more from Writing from the Heart with Brian

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading