Saturday Night in Santiago

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December 19, 2009

I’m sitting here editing photos on a Saturday night. I have three sessions and a wedding in the queue. Before you feel bad for me, remember, I can take a weekend pretty much anytime I want aside from actual weekends. :) And I wouldn’t be working right if I didn’t enjoy it. Never pity someone with a glass of champagne in her hand — that’s all I’m saying.

The new computer we bought this week, an iMac, is ridiculously fast compared to any of the computers we’ve ever used before. I just edited a session in record time and I’m wondering why we hadn’t bought one of these monsters before. I’m seriously about to add hours to my life because of time that I won’t have to spend on the computer waiting for Photoshop to run. Happiness. So far though, all I’ve really done with the extra hours of my life is to spend way too much time thinking — always dangerous.

I’ve been a little down since we got back to Chile, not because of anything the country’s done to me in particular — it’s been a while since I got run over or assaulted or anything so I’m pretty good on that front — but just because ever since this family emergency I’ve been thinking maybe we should move back to the States. My parents might think they’re still spring chickens, but they’re not. Sorry, Mom. While it is true that you have freakishly tight skin, you’ve been alive for FIVE DECADES!!!!

While I’m not a particularly sentimental person, if I’m anything, it’s practical. Of course I really miss my Mom and Dad, but that alone isn’t enough to make me move to the U.S. — obviously. But, living near your relatives is practical. You can be anywhere in a matter of hours when you’re in the same country rather than a matter of days, which is what happens when you’re in another continent. However, if we’re in the U.S. then it’s not practical for us to be able to get to Seba’s family quickly. And, believe it or not, they’ve been alive for even more decades than my own Mom and Dad. Fortunately, we’ve had the opportunity to go back to Michigan and Florida quite often for work, so right now this arrangement makes sense. Hopefully we’ll continue booking weddings in the Miami and/or Chicago area to enable us to continue being able to see family regularly. But, really, there’s nothing like big, bad, health problems to change your perspective on well, pretty much everything.

The other option would be to convince the Hepp family to begin immigrating to Santiago. Instead of coming over on the Mayflower, they’d get here on Lan flight LA 500 and instead of celebrating Thanksgiving, we’d start a new tradition called Dieci-och-giving where we’d eat delicious turkey-mashed-potato-empanadas. If only.

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8 Comments

  1. This post really resonated with me. I'm in a similar dilemma. My parents are significantly older than yours and both live in Chile. If anything happened, it would take me a while to be there even if I were willing to spend whatever money was required. Flights over the pond are weekly rather than daily occurrences and are often booked weeks in advance.

    Of course, we now live three hours away from y girlfriend's parents, so it's one or the other…

    On the upside, this setup makes you make the best of the time you spend with your family, it can prevent you from taking it for granted.

    Comment by Olaf the Troll — December 20, 2009 @ 1:19 am

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  2. Hi Kyle! I've been reading your blog lately and I'm sorry to hear about your Dad! It's so good that you got to go there to help him out though. Keep the posts coming, I think I'm slowly getting addicted to your blog :)

    Comment by morganpearson — December 20, 2009 @ 6:00 am

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  3. I totally feel the same way! Every once and a while my parents joke about moving to Tasmania and I am all DO IT DO IT DO IT.

    Comment by Decoybetty — December 20, 2009 @ 12:12 pm

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  4. Kyle,
    Good Lord I feel like I need my cane and walker!! I'm the same age as your dad, 51. Not OLD by any means. Stress and perfectionism – not good for anyone. No one is perfect, no not one. Thank God you and Seba were able to go and be there for your dad. Please let him know we love and care about him, and you both too. Let us know if we can help in any way – we will. Glad to hear he is doing better. Hope he continues with physical therapy. You are all in our prayers. Love, Aunt Judy

    Comment by judyhepp — December 20, 2009 @ 9:28 pm

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  5. Having been away from my family for 8 years, I can't tell you what joy it brings me to live down the street from them now. I never realized how much I cherish dinners, going out to movies, etc with them!!! I don't think I will always live near them, but for now I make sure enjoy every single second. :)

    I hope your Dad is doing better–he was in my thoughts!!! XO

    Comment by GlobalButterfly — December 22, 2009 @ 6:16 am

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  6. I have been salivating over the new iMac for a while. It looks awesome. I really want to get one but I have to wait till we have settled down. I am DONE with PCs.

    I know how you feel. I definitely want to be near my mom. Not only becuase she will help with babysitting, but because I can help her when she gets old! I love my in-laws, but I just don't envision myself resting my bones in the Atacama desert.

    Comment by Kathleen — December 26, 2009 @ 6:07 am

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  7. Oh crikey. At the grand old age of 50 I read this post with a bit of unease. I'd be horrified if my daughter felt that her mum reaching FIVE DECADES in capital letters, justified her moving back home. To be honest most of us that are so ancient will be working through to our 70s for at least another TWO DECADES and we don't feel old and we certainly don't need looking after. Our daughter is 18 and travelling right now (she will be in Santiago in Chile in February) and I miss her like hell but wild horses wouldn't want her to give up what she is doing now or in the future and come and look after her parents oh,no Trust me Kyle 50 aint old at all it may seem like it to you but it it isn't. Live your life and enjoy it.

    Comment by nyonlass — December 28, 2009 @ 12:35 pm

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  8. Oh crikey. At the grand old age of 50 I read this post with a bit of unease. I'd be horrified if my daughter felt that her mum reaching FIVE DECADES in capital letters, justified her moving back home. To be honest most of us that are so ancient will be working through to our 70s for at least another TWO DECADES and we don't feel old and we certainly don't need looking after. Our daughter is 18 and travelling right now (she will be in Santiago in Chile in February) and I miss her like hell but wild horses wouldn't want her to give up what she is doing now or in the future and come and look after her parents oh,no Trust me Kyle 50 aint old at all it may seem like it to you but it it isn't. Live your life and enjoy it.

    Comment by nyonlass — December 28, 2009 @ 8:35 pm

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