We have some pretty incredible info coming pertaining to the legalities of carrying – and even using a knife – in physical confrontations. I’ll be writing about that next!
For now, here is the conclusion to my trip journal:
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ALL DOWN HILL FROM HERE, ENDING WITH A PERSONAL NOTE
The next day we cruised ? yes, another cruising day! Steph was a sport and let me sleep in, but we encountered our only rough water of the whole trip. Too windy to be poolside, and even the top decks were a bit too shaky. Everyone was pretty lethargic after the mega touring day, the day before. The next day we pulled into our final port which was Corfu, another Greek island. The cleanest and most organized by far. My family got off, did some shopping, ate a great lunch, and then got back on the boat for some pool time fun with the kids.
We concluded the cruise with one more cruising day, which mainly consisted of packing and organizing for deboarding. We ended up spending one more day in Rome, where we visited the Forum, which was immense as well. You could tell the adults where worn, and the kids made it known to.
All in all, it was a great trip. Honestly, a bit of a paradox, as I?m so glad I went there, but not sure I?ll be heading back anytime soon. I loved the ports, cities and sites? as there is a lot of details I left out here, but once again, it just isn?t me. For example, I?ve been to Japan and Australia, and I?d love to go back there, but not back to these places. I know, weird. Who knows, maybe when the boys get older.
The bottom line is that the kids behaved better than we expected, and my family was a great support to two newer parents. It also gave me a chance to reconnect with my family. If anyone really knows me, they know I?m a workaholic? but in a positive way. I love what I do, and am so blessed I can do it as my main occupation. I?m usually at my desk working no later than 6:30/7:00am every morning and my last class finishes at 9:00/9:30pm at night. Besides taking a couple hours out each day for my kids, my workouts, and quick meals ? I?m working the whole day.
Call me crazy, but there are many nights I can?t wait to get up and start working again? and many mornings I awake early, having trouble waiting till I?ve hit an acceptable time cut my sleep time. So for those out there that think martial arts instructors have the life by teaching a couple classes every day, and that is it, I beg to differ (I thought it was going to be that way too 15 years ago when I started).
Although over the last couple years I?ve developed some healthier work habits, I?d be lying if I said I?m totally cured. To best sum it up, there was a time in the ?Dragon, The Bruce Lee Story? movie that totally hit home for me. At the end of the movie Bruce is assessing his commitments to work, and says, ?I want to play with my children without looking at the clock?. That is what this trip gave me? more of that. In a way, it reminded me why I do what I do, and do what I love.
I want to thank my staff for being so supportive over the last three weeks. The trip also gave me some time to think about what is on the horizon for EDS. The 2nd half of 2009 is lining up some incredible projects, seminars, and events which you?ll want to be around for. I?ll be launching a new web based video series which I finished shooting right before I left, and we?ll be running JKD programs in a dozen more ?satellite? locations by Fall/Winter. I?ll also be implementing some great improvements for my students in their classes? because after all, you are also the reason I love what I do.
Hang on tight?
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Lee, Love and Life,
Sifu