Just one tiny question, hankster, this:
Or, this:
Okay, I have that out of my system

But that's a good idea, if you can get something simple from your T (or give him something of yours to take with him) that provides a nice link? Ask him to recommend or give you a book/movie or something he liked he's done/seen and do/see that while he's away. My T idly commented on seeing "Cider House Rules" and enjoyed and I made my husband take me to it (I'm not a big movie person) and he hated it and it was psychologically very difficult for me :-) but now I think about T every time it's on TV or something.