And... We're Back

We had a great trip home for Thanksgiving. It was nice to be back in Indiana. It was a relaxing week with no responsibility or work to do. I got to try out the new camera a little bit, but not much as I thought I would. Here is a shot of the woods behind the barn at my parents' house.  I miss that scenery.  It's amazing how you can't truly appreciate something until you leave. When you come back only then can you understand how much you loved it. I spent a lot of time roaming around our farm, and I took it for granted.  I had a great time growing up there.  One of the good parts about moving away is how it has allowed me to recognize the unique and wonderful experiences I had as a child/young adult.  Only now do I truly understand how lucky I was to have such a great family and great environment in which to spend my formative years.


The freedom and open air of the farm was replaced on Sunday with the claustrophobic cab of our Trailblazer as we made the 13 hour drive southwest.  I hate driving. I always have.  However, my ride was like floating on a puffy cloud in comparison to the painful test of endurance my wife experienced sitting in the passenger seat. I felt so bad for her, but there wasn't much I could do. We stopped to stretch, but the relief ended just a few minutes after saddling back up.  She toughed it out. We made it back home safely. I can tell you we won't be taking anymore significant trips in the car until after baby is here.

The expansiveness of the northern Indiana plains were all but forgotten as I sat at my desk Monday morning trying to catch up on a week's worth of email.  The only bad part about taking vacation is that first day back at work.  It is such a cruel bookend on an otherwise great experience.  Now that I have two days under my belt I am getting back in the flow and once again accepting my fate as a cubical dweller. Today I spent 10.5 hours at work and it seems there will be plenty more days like today in the next couple weeks.  By the time Christmas gets here all the joy and merriment will have been squeezed out of me.

I am probably being a little over-dramatic. Every vacation is too short. The time away is something you look forward to for so long. It isn't fun when you realize it is over, and your next one seems so far away.  I will live, and pretty soon will get to meet my daughter.  That thought alone is enough to get me through any stress or other crap that might be thrown my way.  Just a few more weeks and I am praying oh so hard for a healthy baby girl.