What do you do when your life comes to a turn? How do you cope? Especially having been buzzing like a bee for the whole of your conscious being? Is it not a bit like pulling the handbrake on a highway?

Generally, it may be. In my case, it wasn’t. I still remember the clear morning of July 1st, 2015. It was a bit cool, with the Alps standing out high and crisp in the light of the rising sun. Feeling keen and refreshed after a sound sleep, I went out to the veranda… and was appalled by the mess behind the house. You see, too much buzzing for other people left no time at all for buzzing at home! Well, now I had a plenty of time, and spent an hour or so moving firewood around, trimming the plants, sweeping the floor, and generally making fuss about nothing really.

This was followed by a shower, a bit of gym, and a breakfast that felt more like brunch. I tell you: it’s nothing like falling off the bed and scrambling away to the first telecon of the day. In fact, it took me about another hour and a half just to get to the table, and it still does. In the past life, when on duty, I would be ready for takeoff, fed, dressed and brushed up, within at most 50 minutes if not in a hurry, and under ten if pressed.

Never again.*

(to be continued)

* Yes, I know that movie.