Monday, April 9, 2012

H is for Home and Holidays




      Being a trucker’s wife, I have become accustomed to my husband not being at home.  It is part of life.  It doesn’t mean that after a while I don’t yearn for his presence, because I do.  There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss him.  I accept the fact he can’t be home and make money. 


       
       This last weekend was different.  It was a holiday, and there isn’t a holiday that goes by that he and I both don’t long for him to be home.  He isn’t always home for holidays.  I don’t like it, but it is what it is.  I can accept that he is gone most of the time because he has to be.  It is always a hard pill to swallow when he spends a holiday on the road.  We have small children, and lets face it, as hard as I try I will never be their Daddy.  Holidays don’t seem complete without him.




       Over the years there have been a good many holidays he has missed.  We have kept almost constant contact by cell phone, talking and sending pictures back and forth.  It is not the same.  He has no control over it.  The company he works for has stuff that needs delivered in the opposite direction, and someone has to take it.  I get that.  We need the money.  I get that too.  




        Lately my husband has been in a cycle of going out 3 weeks and coming home for 4 days, meaning he only sees home roughly 55 days a year including his vacation.   That isn’t a whole lot.  His scheduled time to be off is next weekend so I didn’t expect him to be home for Easter.  I steeled my resolve and planned an Easter for our kids filled with Je$u$, bunny baskets, egg hunts, and a baked ham for dinner.


        When Friday rolled around we discovered that he would be passing through for a delivery on Monday.  He could come home for Easter!!  He wouldn’t be here long and he would have to leave Easter morning to make his appointment on time, but he would be coming home!!  He arrived Friday night in time for supper and from that moment on the clock was ticking.  It was a whirlwind and I feel like I have jet lag, but we managed to celebrate Easter on Saturday.  The Easter bunny came on Saturday night to my kids delight.  Instead of preparing the ham I had bought, my husband insisted on barbequing chicken.  When you are a trucker’s wife, you learn to roll with it.  When he left at the butt crack of dawn Easter morning, I felt fulfilled, happy, and alive.  


        Couples that see each other every single night may never see how precious time spent together really is.  Every homecoming is a cause for celebration.  The kids and I are always out by the road to wave that big International into driveway.  I always fling open the truck door as soon as he gets stopped and the kids always climb into the truck in their eagerness to see him and be near him.  Holidays are always more spectacular when he is home.  Even after he left Easter morning, the glow of happiness still hung in the air and made each of our steps a little lighter and our smiles a little more exuberant.  Holidays just aren’t the same without him, and for him there just is no place like home for the holidays until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.





38 comments:

  1. My husband is home but so late he might as well be out truckin like your own.

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    1. Sandra, at least you can snuggle at night. :D Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!

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  2. That's so great that he was able to be with you for at least part of the holiday.

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    1. Paula, I know. We were all so happy. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!!♥

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  3. A nice surprise for you Kathy :-)

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    1. November Rain, I like those kinds of surprises! :D Thank you for stopping in to read and for your comments!!

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  4. How awesome that he was able to be there! What a wonderful surprise, and some great memories!

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    1. Faith, Friends and Flip Flops, we were thrilled. It made Easter for me and the kids. :D Thank you for stopping by to read and comment!!

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  5. Sounds like you have a beautiful family, Kathy! I shared in you and your kids' Saturday evening Easter joy! : )

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    1. Beachlover, I love them to pieces. They are my whole world. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments!

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  6. This is so sweet. And what a lovely tribute to your "coupledom". Thanks for sharing this with us!

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    1. Denine, thank you! I am so pleased you enjoyed my post. I hope your Easter was filled with as much joy as mine was. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!!

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  7. YAY Daddy came home!!! What a cool surprise. I'm really happy for all of you. :) ♥

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    1. Jo, thank you! My life just wouldn't be the same without him in it. Some how I just don't think I could give my kids a wonderful holiday on my own. I could contribute to it, but there would be that underlying sadness without him. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!

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  8. Nice post, Kathy. And as you know, I completely understand. What a happy surprise for you and your kids. :)

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    1. Danneromero, Thank you for stopping in to read and for your comments. I am so pleased you enjoyed my post!

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  9. Let's hope he makes it home for the next important holiday: Mother's Day!

    Catch My Words
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/

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    1. Joyce, I am cool with him missing Mother's day. He is scheduled to be home the weekend of my birthday which is May 5. That works for me! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!

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  10. I love that you all had that time together. Oh, and this: "Every homecoming is a cause for celebration." is SO true!

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    1. Word Nerd, me too! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!

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  11. LOVE how you all rejoice in your time together. So glad this holiday worked out for you all!

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    1. Amy, me too. There are so many holidays that haven't. The company my husband works for now pays holiday pay, so they are a lot better about working him this way when a holiday is near. He has worked places where he had to leave Christmas morning. I hated that and it was hard on all of us. Most trucking companies don't pay holidays and the only way you get paid for them is to work them. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments.

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  12. So glad for you. What a lovely Easter surprise for you and the kids.

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    1. The Writing Goddess, we were thrilled. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!!

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  13. So nice the hubby could stop by for the holiday-- I bet that the kids were so excited (as was Momma!).

    I am fortunate--my hubby is home each and every night--but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate him--because I really do. Too many people have gone too soon in our world--and each day is a day to thank God for each other. Without him the world just doesn't seem right.

    Glad you had some hubby time!!

    Cheers, Jenn
    http://www.wine-n-chat.com

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    1. Jenn, you are very lucky to have your husband home all the time. I know exactly how you feel. My world wouldn't seem right without my husband in it. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  14. Kathy, that was a heartwarming and charming post. Thank you so much for sharing. Happy Easter to you and your loving family.

    --Mike Adams
    http://reasonable-thought.blogspot.com

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    1. Michael, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping in to read and for your kind comments. I hope you had a Happy Easter as well.

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  15. the holidays aren't good without someone to share them with!

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    1. Rhonda, without someone to share them with the holidays would be just another day. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments!!

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  16. I love how excited you get when he comes home. It is evident you both have a deep love for eachother. I am so glad he was able to come home albeit brief. I can envision you smiling like crazy for days after- Nice and sweet

    Love & Light

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    1. Laura, most of the time I am really happy and excited to see him. Even more so when it is a big surprise. Sometimes he likes to call me up when he knows he is coming home simply to start fights. He will have me so mad by the time he gets home that I am not sure I even want him here. Once he is actually here, then things quiet down and I am happy he is home...I get used to him being here again only to have him leave once again. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments.

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  17. What a lovely Easter surprise for you all, Kathy! You are a strong woman. I couldn't stand being without my husband for so much of the time. I guess it makes the time you're together so much more meaningful.

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    1. ElaineLK, I don't really have much choice but to be strong and handle it. He is rarely home when anything bad happens. I usually got to figure out how to pick up the pieces on my own. The time we are together is definitely more priceless. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments.

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  18. That sounds rough; glad you're able to make the most of the time you do have!

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    1. iwasawriter, we definitely do make the most of it. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!

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  19. I'm so glad he made it home for Easter. How awesome. I could feel your joy. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Suzy, thank you for stopping by and reading. I hope your Easter was as joyous as mine was!

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