I know, I know, I have bloggy absent for some time. I have been in all the places about and more with 48hrs a week mixed in at home with my beloved family. Yes you read it correctly I get 48 hours a week with my kids and my wife. It has been this way for roughly 6 1/2 months. Update we are moving to Utah- hopefully soon. I love my new job even despite the brutal commute, but as I tell Alayna who will be 10 this summer, it is not our permanent reality.
What is a permanent reality is that while I have been traveling and ensuring that my family has a roof over their head, food on the table and rebuilding my IED destroyed financial dream, Alayna & Jordan have been growing up without my eyes vs. before my eyes. I came home a few weeks ago to find that Alayna had stripped her princess stuff off her walls and put up Carrie Underwood posters. ( could be worse, way worse.At least C. underwood is easy on the eyes and a great voice to boot) But the real kicker was when I went to do my laundry so I had clothes to repack in 24hrs. I walk into the laundry room and placed upon a towel on top of the dryer is a set of very small looking tank tops. I thought someone had shrunk my sons tank tops.. Nooooo.
Me-"Honey, what are these items on the dryer?"
Wife- " Laughing, Oh those are Alayna's new training bras."
Me- " Say What? When? What the? How? Come on.. Really?"
Me- " Are we out of scotch?"
SIGH......
So later that night my wife takes the opportunity to say,
"See honey,look, she is growing up."
I look over not thinking, only to catch a glimpse of my young daughters new found maturity. Now I know this happens to all little girls. It is part of life and growing. But what happened to my little girl whom I used to hold like a football close to my heart and rock to sleep? Point being I have missed so much, and these little surprises are just startling to me. A friend of mine Jessica Bern told me that her dad used travel all the time with his job and it did not make her love him any less. In fact I really respected his hard wrok for us.
(Jessica I paraphrased a bit, but I think I got most of it.)
Thanks, the thoughts did make me feel a bit of comfort.
I mean even my little man Jordan has sprouted in height and his so very grown way of expressing himself and speaking to me. I guess it is time to prep my birds and bees approach and speech. Damn, soon they will be asking for the car, extra lunch money or worse to go on a date. ( note to self, buy shotgun shells, wife beater tee-shirts and keep working out.)
I guess this is all inevitable. I just hoped I would be there when it all happened. Big ups to my awesome wife for keeping this crazy band of hooligans in line, homework done, mouths fed, and some sense of normalcy during this interesting time.
Well back to my hotel room and a good workout. Down 22lbs since October. Soon to have my girlish figure back. Maybe I will run into you on my travels. If I do, I need a hug.
Keep On Rock'in In The Free World
