Remember That, Guys! By David Pereyra Smell the coffee. Bette's got it going and is in full swing into her morning routine. Rise early, coffee, flurry of activity and movement from room to room. Something is missing, though. She hasn't transformed herself into BlueSuitMom. This morning is travel day. No career wear. No makeup. There is a rather delicious second cup of coffee taken in the morning sun on the back patio where dragonflies wing in geometric dance. Today's trip: New York. Bette has to leave soon. Precision planning and execution is the theme. Swoop in and do business, in and out, grab the goods. Meet with the agency, see the new spot, then the sales force. We'll reschedule dinner, she says, holding a piece of clothing over her travel bag. And remember, when you pick me up this time, it's Delta not American. Never mind, she says, packs the article and is off moving through the house. I hear her say something that sounds like, call land. I've got a few minutes more and then we really have to go! she says, popping into the kitchen. Bette prefers one-day hops with time for herself. But there are advantages to having a couple of days of uninterrupted sleep when she travels on extended stays. And on this trip, Bette has every intention of purchasing a pair of black shoes at Kenneth Cole New York. Maybe two. Cooking the new economy. Bette rushes off on these jaunts across empire once a month or so. She travels to conferences and meetings, making business on visits to Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, Miami and the East coast. There are rollouts, product positioning and policy reviews with city managers intent on spending down non-existent budgets. Fly, fly away. More coffee, please! Where's my cup. I need more coffee. Bette's moving around the house at a good clip now. Liesl warms to the pace. With Bette home at this morning hour the house is alive with activity. Fun and games. Mom and pop are home. And momma's going to New York! Wee. We talk up these short trips, make them exciting for Liesl. She loves to talk about how Bette goes away, who picks her up and drives her around. Where Liesl and I are going for lunch even though it's 8 a.m. "When I was a little girl," she'll say, "I used to go to New York. Remember when I was a little girl and we went to the park? Hey dad, hey . . . hey!" She's been to New York before, on an extended business trip with mom and understands something about business and work, though Liesl always tells us her office, where she takes special cone falls and pays checks, is somewhere in Carolina. Go figure. Suddenly Bette calls out, We have to go now. I begin collecting Liesl for the ride to the airport, like a pampered assistant to a real celebrity. Bette, BlueSuitMom. Liesl pauses at the door and asks if Philip can come. Sure sure, I say. Since he's invisible, he doesn't need a child safety seat. Where is he, I ask. Right here, says Liesl, cupping something precious in her hands. Great. Let him come. I put Philip in my pocket and then it's out the door and into the car. Bette collects her purse, checks her e-ticket, and we're moving now. To the airport, Bette already in New York at a pre-meeting meeting in her mind. "Who's going to drive you in New York?" asks Liesl as we skim the airport perimeter. "I'll take a cab," explains Bette. And Liesl remembers. She's excited. She knows what this is all about, this travel, this thing we call work. Fun. "Remember when I was a little girl," Liesl calls from the back seat, " I used to go to New York, too. Remember that, guys?" Recent Columns From a Dad's View • Enjoying life in the slow lane David Pereyra is a stay-at-home dad and the other half of a BlueSuitMom.		R e l a t e d Fatherhood Conferences The Third Annual National Summit on Fatherhood, Friday & Saturday, June 2 & 3, 2000, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. Among this year's awardees are: country musician Tim Mcgraw and former NFL quarterback Jim Kelly. Featured topics include Creating Local Fatherhood Initiatives; Creating State Fatherhood Initiatives; "What Ever Happened to Daddy's Little Girl?"; The 6 Basics of Being a Great Dad; and, Working with At-Home Dads