Back from Out of Town

I've been out of town since last Friday. It's been almost five years since I last had to work on the road for an extended period, and I had forgotten how much of a grind it is (I get to credit about 14 hours of overtime for non-workdays, but the actual hours are probably a little longer, on the average).

Six or eight years ago, when I was on the road a lot, the time on the road didn't matter so much because I was single and had no real family obligations. Everything is different after you are married and you and your spouse are raising a toddler together. But based on my phone conversations with my wife, I think we really take for granted having loved ones around all the time, and when they are not there, you really miss them a lot.

And yet, with strong ties to loved ones, it's easier to get through the hard work and long hours because you have something sustaining you back at home, and a reason to stay safe and come back to your loved ones.