Count me among the January-24-is-the-Most-Depressing-Day-of-the-Year believers. Aside from everything else, the day coincided with our annual Batch picture taking, and the occasion only highlighted our dwindling numbers as more and more of us get assigned abroad. In fact, two batchmates were scheduled to fly out for good that very weekend.
“Wait just a freakin' minute, Mr. Sensitive!” you say. “Isn’t the whole point of the foreign service to get posted? Why should that be depressing? Quit whining, you weenie. Envoy up!”
Well, three quick replies: a) yeah, we know we're all going to be assigned abroad eventually, but still, these are really good friends who are leaving in rapid succession and who've been with me since the start of my career as an FSO, and that would make even Dr. Phil misty; b) the way things are shaping up, I might go “I am Legend” and be the Batch’s last man standing at the Home Office (which means, among others, I’d have to spring for EVERYONE’S despedida and going away present. Hmp!); and c) have you tried to schedule a live Fantasy draft across time zones?
Fortunately, later that evening we had the supreme anti-depressant: the Triple-V Ultima
te Buffet! We feted our departing batchmates to lechon, seafood, mango mousse, bottomless ice tea, and everything else they’ll crave at post.
Nothing relieves misery like indigestion, I always say.
“Wait just a freakin' minute, Mr. Sensitive!” you say. “Isn’t the whole point of the foreign service to get posted? Why should that be depressing? Quit whining, you weenie. Envoy up!”
Well, three quick replies: a) yeah, we know we're all going to be assigned abroad eventually, but still, these are really good friends who are leaving in rapid succession and who've been with me since the start of my career as an FSO, and that would make even Dr. Phil misty; b) the way things are shaping up, I might go “I am Legend” and be the Batch’s last man standing at the Home Office (which means, among others, I’d have to spring for EVERYONE’S despedida and going away present. Hmp!); and c) have you tried to schedule a live Fantasy draft across time zones?
Fortunately, later that evening we had the supreme anti-depressant: the Triple-V Ultima
te Buffet! We feted our departing batchmates to lechon, seafood, mango mousse, bottomless ice tea, and everything else they’ll crave at post.Nothing relieves misery like indigestion, I always say.
The Batch picture itself didn’t even turn out that nice, mostly because the boys had the maturity of kindergarteners and couldn’t keep still and stop putting sungay on the girls. Ladies and gentlemen, YOUR future ambassadors! =)
Adieu to two more batchmates. The one on the left (and rocking the ‘stache) is SHY LONG COZEN JUROR, who’s off to Saudi Arabia. The one on the right is COMMAND DOE RED, who’s headed to Pakistan (no lame jokes this time; just best wishes, and stay safe).
Rock on, lads. Rock on.
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