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Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Tuesday, November 23rd
Today was an interesting day. I went from home (Milwaukee) to Green Bay to pickup a load headed toward Pennsylvania. However, they couldn't reschedule the arrival time and I ended up dropping the load from whence I started earlier in the day. Then I went back up to Green Bay and picked up another load that is headed towards Nebraska. While I was inspecting the loaded trailer, I found a flat tire on it. So I limped along to one of our nearby repair terminals until the tire was fixed (Mike was a crackerjack mechanic who fixed the flat and coached me on other odds and ends to help keep my truck in shape. Another guy hand-delivered some anti-freeze fuel additive when I suggested that I needed to pick some up. They all make a good team there.) So, I'm bunking for the night in Oshkosh, home of the great EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association). If you ever get the chance to attend the annual fly-in, it's worth visiting!

I had a great 3-days home with the family. In fact, I even got home early last Friday to make it a cool 3 1/2 days. I'm noticing a pattern when I come home. First full day back is a readjustment day for the family and I (they get used to having me back and I get used to being back with them). Day 2 is when you really feel as though you haven't been away for as long as you have been. Day 3 (if you get a day 3) borders both on really enjoying family time and getting psyched to leave again. In reality, I believe you need a minimum of 3-days home with the family before taking off on a 7-14 day journey. In fact, I don't think it's a stretch for people away from their family for 5-days or more at-a-time to be given a minimum of 3-days with them once their back. Being away for more than 5-days at a time for weeks, months, and even years puts a serious strain on the family relationships (the fabric of the family unit is frayed enough as it is!). Anyway, it was enjoyable to have a solid 3-days back with the family. It was tough to go--my son sobbed that he didn't want me to go. That is very difficult to watch and experience. Sometimes I wonder if I made the right choice to back into the trucking industry. It's a heck-of-a sacrifice on the family. I'll have to ponder that in the coming months....

Well, I'm going to try to both eat better and sleep better on this journey (that means little to no TV; of course that all bad since much of what I watch is through the eyes of a snow storm--bad reception). So I'm "supposed" to crash in 5-minutes. I better adhere to my "schedule".

miles driven = 429

7:31:25 PM comment [] back to top