Global Hug Tour Launch Date Changed to 9/09/09

The past month has been a difficult struggle between priorities and commitments. About a month after we announced the launch of the Global Hug Tour, leaving in May of 2009, my daughter Carly informed us that she and her husband are expecting their first child. Woohoo! I’m going to be a grandmother! That’s so cool!

We’re elated, as this is also our first grandchild. However, the timing created a quandary for us, as the baby is due in late August, a month before we were to return from the Global Hug Tour, previously scheduled from May-September.

This is my only daughter and my first grandchild. Not only do I want to be there for the birth of the baby, but I also want to be there for my daughter as she goes through her first pregnancy.

Therefore, with mixed emotions, we have made the decision to delay the launch of the Global Hug Tour until September 9th, 2009. I sincerely hope this doesn’t create any difficulties for anyone planning to coordinate with us in any of the cities. If so, please accept my heartfelt apologies for the change in plans.

Our tentative itinerary now begins from Boulder on 9/9/09, to New York City for 9/11/09, heads west to Dallas and Los Angeles before leaving the US for Canada, Russia and points beyond. We’ll return into Washington, D.C. on 1/21/10, National Hug Day. Seems fairly serendipitous, no?

Sometimes when things are changing it appears that the plan is going sideways or that the path is wrong. Yet in the end, what originally seemed to be negative can easily turn into the greatest positive. Reminds me of a blog I wrote recently called “We’ll see”.

I know that all things happen in Divine timing and for the perfect reason, even when I try to resist the change. I had my heart set on leaving in May, but I also have my heart set on being there if my daughter needs me when the baby is born. And, I’m quite excited to give my first hug to this beautiful little child, my first grand baby.

Thank you for your understanding in this decision!!! It didn’t come lightly and I’m hoping that we still have your love and support for the tour, even if it’s delayed for a few months. I’m sure the extra time will help The Global Hug Tour be even bigger and better than we’d originally planned.

Here’s the new itinerary:

Boulder, CO      9/9/09

New York, NY      9/9

Dallas, TX        9/13

Los Angeles, CA        9/15

Vancouver, BC, Canada        9/17

Juneau, AK

Anchorage, AK       9/19

Adak, AK       9/22

Petrapavlovsk, Russia        9/23

Sapporo, Japan        9/24

Nagasaki, Japan        9/26

Seoul, South Korea        9/29

Shanghai, China        10/2

Hong Kong, China        10/5

Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam        10/8

Siem Reap, Cambodia        10/10

Singapore, Singapore        10/13

Kuala Lumpur, Maylasia        10/16

Chiang Mai, Thailand        10/19

Kathmandu, Nepal        10/22

Chennai, India        10/25

Mumbai, India        10/28

Dubai, UAE        10/30

Kuwait City, Kuwait       11/2

Beirut, Lebanon        11/6

Amman, Jordan        11/9

Haifa, Israel        11/12

Athens, Greece        11/15

Pristina, Kosovo         11/18

Prague, Czech Republic        11/20

Berlin, Germany        11/23

Vilnius, Lithuania        11/26

Riga, Latvia        11/28

St. Petersberg, Russia        11/30

Helsinki, Finland        12/3

Stockholm, Sweden        12/6

Copenhagen, Denmark        12/11

Amsterdam, Netherlands        12/14

Rome, Italy        12/17

Barcelona, Spain        12/20

Paris, France        12/23

London, England        12/27

Dublin, Ireland        12/30

Glasgow, Scotland        1/2

Reykjavik, Iceland        1/5

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland        1/8

Gander, Newfoundland        1/8

Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada        1/9

Washington, DC        1/12

Toronto, Ontario, Canada        1/15

Chicago, IL        1/18

Boulder, CO        1/21

We greatly appreciate your understanding, love and support and look forward to meeting you along the way.
With gratitude and big hugs,

Gail