Things were more routine from there- breakfast, cab ride to the client site, start up the meeting.  For whatever reason it was decided to send a systems analyst (me) and a business analyst to collect requirements, but to the project managers were facilitating the meeting.  Since this was actually supposed to be a requirements gathering session, this seemed a bit backwards, but we were making it work.  I had a little impatience and had to work to inject at the right spots and get all the data I needed for requirements as we went.

Then it happened.  One of our team got a call, excused herself, left the room.  We kept going, no big deal, probably a bathroom break.  A minute later, she calls me out of the room.

Her mother has passed away.  We have to get her home somehow.

Reality of real life, important life, not the routine little world of our jobs that we worry so much about, slams me in the chest.  “Just a minute, I’ll get you a plane.”  Popping my head into the meeting, I make some quick excuses, arrange for internet access, hit the web, find a plane and car service to get her home, all the while doing my best to keep her together.  The meeting just doesn’t seem that important anymore.  In a few minutes, we have things pulled together; she has a flight and car, her family knows when to pick her up and where, and we have her on her way.

And then… then I had to return to the meeting and go on as if nothing happened.  This person, a friend of mine, was on her way home, alone, after her mother died, and nothing happened.   I led the meeting from there.

Five hours of requirements gathering later, we had the requirements we came to gather, and we managed to finish early.  The client was very satisfied and will probably sign the deal soon.  Mission accomplished.

Life has to go on when tragedies strike.  We did our jobs; we went on.  You never know what’s going to happen in life.

I think I will go visit my family very soon.  We all should.

Since I put this here, I’ve been to South Bend, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, DC, and s0me other places… they’re starting to run together.  I’ve also changed jobs at work, gotten a new office, had an office mate, lost an office mate, gained another, lost another, gained two more (!), changed departments/bosses, almost took up a new opportunity, and gained a new opportunity where I am now.  It’s been rather exciting.  And that’s just my job.

Did I mention I overhauled my other blog (Undocumented Features), got recruited to write a television pilot, and somehow volunteered myself to do an internet marketing campaign and a website for a band? 

Through all that though, I haven’t slacked on jotting down some personal thoughts.  I’ve been sticking them all in my “old-tech blog” (a stack of notepads and journals that I picked up along the way).  I think I’ll transcribe some of that here soon, post some pics from the trips, and see if I can’t get in the habit of this site.