"It was really cute because when I was in his office he made me get up and come to his desk... then he gave me the phone and dialed his own voicemail to listen to the vacation message he had put on-- to hear that there was, in fact, a return date. "

that does help a lot. T is the one who told me when my MD would be back - and that it was important that I know that as well as that T has all the emergency info just incase.