Blogging A to Z: J is for Jubilant

Just trying to plug along the whole Blogging A to Z series where I pick a letter and just write.

At this point it really is old news as everyone knows I recently moved to Arizona. However, what many people may not know is that my wife and now six-year twins stayed back in Chicago. The plan was always for me to move out, get established, perhaps buy a house, and be ready for the time when they come out to join me.

Actually, the plan was always for the twins to finish kindergarten to help minimize the disruption to them of having to change schools mid-year. But I digress.

Today, that time has come. They’re packed and ready to move out of Illinois around noon today. Needless to say, there’s a HUGE sense of jubilation* on my part. I’ve missed them something fierce and can’t wait to give my wife and little guys a big squeeze.

Being separated from loved ones is difficult. For me it’s only been about two months, but they’ve been a somewhat tough two months emotionally. Oh sure, I got to experience a bit of the bachelor life again by hitting the bars on weekends, playing Buzztime trivia and watching more sports than I usually do.

At the same time, I’ve been eating better, exercising more, and overall have been feeling better.

Yet I’ve missed out on two months with the coolest kids on the planet which included their sixth birthday. I’ve missed out on helping them with homework, practicing their sight-words, the loss of a couple of teeth, taking them to the park, and kissing them goodnight.

Through phone calls and video chat, I’ve only caught glimpses of an increase in talking and vocabulary by Son #1. At the same time, I’ve had to hear of their struggles adjusting to a routine without daddy.

I wasn’t there for Mother’s Day.

And for me, it’s only been two-months. I often think of divorced dads who have limited visitation or worse yet: soldiers who go six-months (or more) away from their children. By no means is my so-called “plight” similar to theirs but it’s been tough and fortunately, it’s almost over.

My wife says she plans to drive straight through from Chicago to Arizona. Ha! Fat chance on that. We’re talking 1,700 miles, a minimum of 26 hours in the mini-van, twin 6-yr. olds, a not-to-bright Golden Retriever, and last but not least, her mother.

Which equates to a lot of gas stops and even more bathroom breaks. The kids will get antsy and my wife and mother-in-law will be on the verge of killing each other well before they cross into Oklahoma.

They’ll hit a hotel – twice if they’re smart.

So I’m guessing that by Sunday, at the latest, I’ll be reunited with my wife and sons. There were certainly tears when I left Chicago and I’m guessing a few more might be shed when I see them again in Arizona.

Of course, it’s expected to be 100+ degrees all next week so I can also see them all turning around and hightailing it back home by week’s end…

 

* I guess I could’ve used the term “giddy” but that begins with a “G” and today’s letter is “J”.