Nate

I am getting this question a lot again, so I thought it should be answered. The question, " where's Nate?" Yes, I seem to be flying solo a lot lately and no I don't know when it will end! In November 2 stores were added to Nate's territory. They are Elko and Winnemucca Nevada, no big deal. He just hits them coming back from Ontario. Right before Christmas the territory in Nevada became vacant. So, 8 stores were divided between 3 managers. Nate took on 3 stores in the area of Reno. Well, now a new store is opening over there ( I'm not sure where cause I honestly can't keep it all straight) and Nate will cover it too. These extra stores are only temporary, but you just never know how long that is.

At the moment I am looking at today as "hump" day. He has been gone a week and hopefully will be home next weekend. We have been trying to keep busy with our everyday activities, which makes the week go by fast. Weekends on the other hand get a little harder. You would think that I would be a pro at this, seeing that we did it for so long. Even it being a "normal" part of our life, doesn't make it any easier. Knowing this was coming, a couple weeks ago I got tickets to take the kids to the "Young Ambassadors" concert at the Stephens Performing Arts Center. What I didn't take into account was that the concert didn't start till 7:30pm. It was a very long day and I honestly was flat out ready to just have the day end by then. It gave the kids something to look forward to and they were all so good, even Mady who can barely sit through a movie at the theatre. It was something new to them and broke up the weekend.

I try not to think that this is how life is going to be in 5 or 10 years. I miss Nate not being here every night for dinner. I miss normal family life and having him by my side supporting the kids. Do I dare say that I miss his "banker hours"? I don't want any of this to sound like I am complaining, because I'm not. (promise!) I know how blessed we are. Just sometimes things get hard or the days get long. I could think of lots worse situations that I am so thankful I don't have to deal with. So the bright side?

1) If Nate is still pulling the 2 week shifts in 5 years, my kids will be old enough that I may just take off and go be with him for part of the time.

2) He loves his job and what he does

3)My room stays cleaner with him gone :)

4) I get to go to bed when I want!

I would trade in the last 2 for a husband that got to sleep in his bed 10 out of 14 nights. Cause I will admit, sometimes I don't mind him being gone fore 2 or 3 nights here or there. The long haul stuff, well, just gets long.