When the call comes, you take it…

Earlier this year, the opportunity to work in Paris came up in conversations with my manager. At first, it felt like a long shot — not just on the company’s side, but for us as a family. It also felt like the kind of opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime.

For context: I work for SLB, and for many within the company, a stint at our iconic Paris headquarters is a dream. From a career perspective, it’s a chance to grow, connect, and take on something truly special.

But personally? It was a much tougher call.

You see, my wife Hailey has deep roots in Texas. When we got married, she told me — lovingly but firmly — that we’d never leave the state. And honestly, I didn’t plan to. Our kids are Texas-born, and even though we lived in the middle of Houston, we were settled. We had a routine, a close-knit school and church community, two trucks (yes — an F150 and a Suburban, because…Texas), and family nearby. Life was good. Comfortable. Predictable.

So this Paris offer? It was a curveball.

We had a lot of long conversations — at dinner, on walks, during late-night “what if” talks. We made pros and cons lists. We called friends. Some had never left the state. Some were seasoned expats. The advice was mixed. The lists were balanced. And still, we weren’t sure.

Then came “The Decision Table.” (Every major life choice deserves a name like that, right?)

We ordered pizza, sat down with the kids, and laid everything out. From a work perspective, the answer became clear. A technical expert I admire told me something that really stuck:

“When Paris calls, you say YES. The package may not be perfect, the stress might be real, but when HQ taps you… you go.”

That helped settle something for me. For my career, this move was a clear yes. Now we just had to get there mentally, logistically, and emotionally as a family. We thought. We prayed. We stewed. We waited.

Then one day, the official call came:

“Hunter, we want you in Paris.”

At the same time — in what felt like a sign(or chaos?) — our landlord told us our lease was ending and the house was going up for sale. We had to be out by May 31, no exceptions.

Nothing like a firm deadline to push you over the edge.

And so, as a family, we said: Let’s do it.

Would it be hard? Yes.
Would it be challenging? Definitely.
Would it be the right decision? We believed so.

So we decided we would sell the truck, say goodbye to HEB, packup our comfortable Texas life, and step into the unknown. Au revoir Texas — Paris, here we come. C’est la vie

What happened next? A whirlwind of emotions, logistics, excitement, and a few “What did we just do?” moments — but that’s a story for another post.