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Back on the Road with Travel Man

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Renee Spindle

I’m on the road with Travel Man this week. Yesterday we took a short flight to the Sacramento airport. Only a little over an hour in the air (we call these up/downs). Everything went fine. Flight was good, got in just a tad late, walked through the terminal to get ourselves to baggage claim.

Oh wait, and before we mosied over to baggage claim Travel Man had to make a mad dash back on the plane. He left his Nexxus tablet in the seat back (this never, ever happens to him). He tried to claim I distracted his “normal” flight check routine. The nerve!!

Now we’re at the baggage claim waiting for our suitcases. Travel Man tells me a little story he read about suitcases being stolen right from the baggage carousel. We’re still waiting for our bags. Finally here comes the big Travel Man bag, his tool box, and we spot my bag with the pink luggage tag at the top of the carousel. Travel Man’s bags come around the carousel no problem, and then we’re waiting for my bag. Waiting, waiting and no bag. So, Travel Man booked it into high gear around the other side of the carousel. I’m watching the people leaving to make sure my bag with the pink tag is not rolling out the door without me. Travel Man gets to the other side of the carousel, and my bag was just sitting on the floor, off of the carousel. The nerve of some people. Someone took my bag off of the carousel, realized it was not their bag, and just left it sitting there. Luckily we were pay attention, and my Super Traveler rescued my bag from the perils of some other fate.

Thought for the day – always pay attention to your belongings when you are on the road. Oh and don’t leave home with out a Travel Man!!

No comments Posted in Travel Man, Travels

Our Nest is Minus One.

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Renee Spindle

A little over a week ago one of my twenty-something’s flew the coop and went out to conquer the world all on her own. Hilary has lived away from home before, but this time she’s striking out on her own to live the independent life. I’m a little worried about her (because that’s what I do), because of her seizure in February. But when you have kids with chronic conditions you have to let them go, let them learn to be their own person, and let them find their independence. Just like all of your other kids.

The way the family dynamic has changed with the kids moving out on their own is not something I had really ever contemplated too much. I knew it would happen someday, one day; way, way, way down the road. And now suddenly here it is staring right at me. When you are in the throes of raising your kids, and working full-time you don’t always have a lot of time to ponder these thoughts. If you’re like I was, you would put your nose to the grind stone, get everyone where they needed to be on time, and then you moved on to the next day.

Now, with only one of the birdies left at home it is sometimes, slightly strange getting used to the quiet, calm, and peacefulness of the household. I can remember the times when we would be having dinner, going to someone’s school event, getting homework done, and then getting ready for the next day. It could definitely be a tiring grind, but in the end, as a parent, always rewarding in one way or another.

It seems as if I am rambling on here, mixing new experiences with old memories. I think the new experiences bring some of the old memories back to life momentarily. At least that’s what happens in my head.

I can remember back to a few conversations Travel Man and I had when the kids were all in high school. We would talk about one day, someday having the house all to ourselves. At the time we had those conversations it seemed like those years were a million miles away. And it’s funny now that, that time is right in front of us it seems like our time with all kids with us under the same roof, through all of the ups and downs, was so short. Here and gone in the blink of an eye. That is such an irony for me. Just a crazy, crazy irony.

Entering this new phase of life has been interesting for me. It’s been a learning experience for me to let the kids go, and do and be. I always, always wanted each of them to be independent spirits, and successfully find their way in the world. But I have to admit that letting go of the “mom cord” can be very difficult. I am doing it though. I’m working on getting back to some old hobbies that had been neglected, and discovering new hobbies. It’s a whole new world for me. A new world at home, and a new dynamic added to the relationship with the kiddies that have flown the coop.

One thing is for certain though, the love you have for your kids never, ever fades. They may think that it wanes occasionally, but it never does. It is and always will be unconditional. Nothing stands in the way of a Mother’s love for her children, no matter how old they are.

4 comments Posted in Around the House

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Renee Spindle

Today is Mother’s Day. And I want to wish a happy Mother’s Day to all of you Mom’s and Grandma’s out there. I want to send an extra special package of love to my Grandma, my Mom, and my daughter Naomi. All important Mom’s in our family circle.

This post is all about when Naomi was born. The pictures shown above were taken the first time Naomi met her Grandma Joan (Marma), and her Great-Grandma Nehls. Naomi was about two weeks old. We were living in Wisconsin at the time, and my parents travelled from California to see their newly born granddaughter (the first grandchild), and my Grandma came up to visit us from Illinois too. Naomi was also the first great-grandchild in the family. What a special, special memory.

That same weekend this five generation picture was taken. We’re so lucky to have this memory.

From left to right this is my Great-Grandpa Quist, and myself holding Naomi. Standing behind us is my Grandma, and my Mom. I love this picture. It is a treasure.

I recently found this poem my Grandma penned to my Mom the day after Naomi was born. It is such a sweet sentiment on becoming a Grandma I wanted to share it with you all.

On Being A Grandparent

Dear Joan,

I’m glad you were able

To sit at our table

Tho’ Lord knows the time was too short.

And while sleep we were lacking

T’was more fun just yakking

And sharing a generous snort.

I know it’s a trauma

For you to be gramma

As for me—at long last I am Great.

And I’m sure you’ll adjust

As all Grandparents must

For it’s really a wonderful fate.

When Renee gets to show me

Her precious Naomi

My pleasure will be overflowing

And I’m glad I will be there

When you and Jim see her

For I’m sure that you both will be glowing

I called Bobbi and Mother

But not any other.

Remember you told Dad you’d call

I know he’ll expect it

If you recollect it

Is really a first for us all.

I hope Grandma Nehls

Reconsiders, and feels

That the trip would be too long and taxing.

If she goes, I will drive

And I guess I’ll survive

But to ride with you would be relaxing.

I’ve written Loretta

And I hope they will get a

Day off and bring Dad as per plan.

Other wise I’ll be going

(Lord, I hope it’s not snowing)

To White Lake to get the old man.

So at this point it’s iffy.

Let me know in a jiffy

When your plans are all made and you’re due.

And I’ll have to see

Who is going with me

Or if I can ride up with you.

I’m glad that your visit

Was really exquisite.

Your reunion was joyous and hearty.

But it’s really outrageous

That girls of your ages

Indulge in a big slumber party

Now I’ve done what I said

With this rhyme you’ve just read

And I hope that you found it amusing.

But if I tried much more verse

It could only get worse

I’m afraid you would find it abusing.

With love,

Mom (and Harry)

Anne L. Nehls

On the birth of Naomi Carolyn

This post has been linked to the GRAND Social linky

6 comments Posted in Family, Holidays

The Travel is Becoming Commonplace-

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Renee Spindle

I did not think this would happen to me, but it seems that Travel Man’s hectic, crazy travel schedule is becoming commonplace for me. Is it because I am more accepting of his crazy schedule? Is it because I have come to expect his travels to be randomly scheduled? Or is it because I am finally able to accept the travel/work schedule as our “normal”? I’ve been asking myself these questions over the past few weeks.

On one hand I feel slightly worried about letting the “normal” become too commonplace for myself. On the other hand it is a good thing for me to be more accepting of the situation, because I am actually able to be relaxed when my husband tells me he’s going to Bangkok, or Brazil, or a rather remote location in Canada.

This is probably a good place to give you all a little back story about Travel Man’s job. I don’t think I have ever explained why he travels so much. My Travel Man is a Field Service Technician for a company called F.R. Drake, based in Virginia. Drake manufactures the machines that orient and load the hot dogs into the packages that we all buy in our local grocery stores. Their machine is a small portion of the entire hot dog/sausage making process, but it is also a very necessary one. When Travel Man is out on assignment he is either installing new equipment for a production line, retrofitting a machine, or fixing a problem with a machine. He works out of our house here in California, but can be dispatched anywhere in the world. His first assignment with Drake, almost two years ago now, took him to South Africa.

Now, back to my story- When Travel Man initially took this position I stressed and worried about him being in so many places, and on back to back assignments. It was particularly stressful for me when he travelled out of the country. What would I do if he got sick, or something happened to him, and I could not get there? I don’t have a passport yet. I’m getting one this year, it’s at the top of my to-do list.

Then something strange happened to me this week. When I took my Travel Man to the airport this past Monday morning I said to myself, “Hey I’m dropping my husband off at work.” I’ve never really thought this to myself before. His mode of commuting to and from work just happens to be an airplane. And it’s not like he owns an airplane or anything, it just happens to be his mode of transportation!

What has been amazing this week is from the moment that I had this revelation a sense of calm came over me that is difficult to describe. I felt less stressed, a teeny-weeny bit less worried (because I’m a worrier by trade), and a whole lot more accepting of this situation. Previous to this week I always knew that this is what my husband needed to do to make a living, but I would always resist and stress at the notion that he had to travel about 80-85% out of the month. Now, I am finally able to accept our “normal”.

My hope with my newly found revelation is that it will allow me to be the most supportive “Road Warrior” wifey that I can be. That I won’t feel so lonely if I’m home by myself a little bit more. It’s quite easy to have a little pity party for yourself when you’re all alone. And most of all that I am able to easily and whole-heartedly let my Travel Man know that he is my hero for what he does, and the way that he works to take care of our family.

4 comments Posted in Travel Man, Travels

It’s Our Turn to Pay it Forward

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Renee Spindle

While travelling from one city to the next with Travel Man last week we lost his Bluetooth. It got left in the rental car when we were making a mad dash for the door to the terminal to escape the chilly Chicago “spring” weather. Unfortunately, we did not realize this had happened until we got into the rental car at our destination airport. The Bluetooth was brand new, it’s a pretty cool model, and Travel Man was bummed. After a few attempts to reach the rental car agency Travel Man finally got through to someone who could help him. The representative patched him through to the Chicago Midway terminal, and they checked to see if the car was still there, but it had already left the building. Travel Man left his phone numbers and asked the agent to contact him if they found the Bluetooth when the car was returned.

We were not holding out much hope that we would see the Bluetooth again. And a tiny, little side note; this entire phone calling phase of our day was going on while we were driving to Demopolis, AL from Birmingham. We were exhausted from the days’ travel, and locating the right phone number (me), and then getting through to the right person (Travel Man) was nearly like a navigational “discussion”. It was not pretty for a few minutes there, but we got through it. Let’s see that was on a Friday.

Travel Man had to work Saturday morning, and would you believe he got a phone call from the rental car representative. They let him know that his Bluetooth had been returned that morning, by the person who rented the car after us. This special person made a special trip back to the airport to return Travel Man’s Bluetooth. Awesome! The rental car agency shipped the Bluetooth back to our house, and it arrived a day after we got home from this trip.

If you’re a positive sort of person like Travel Man and I tend to be this is the kind of act that gives you a glimmer of hope. Yes there are good people out there in the world. Those people do kind things for one another on a regular basis; it’s a habit for them. So if the person who returned a Bluetooth to Chicago’s Midway terminal is reading this post, we thank you.

And now it’s our turn – to Pay It Forward. The kindness of a stranger goes a long way, probably even longer, when you’re travelling and away from home. We always try to go out of our way to be helpful to others, and when given the opportunity we both lend a helping hand. We are always happy to Pay It Forward. That kind of opportunity usually happens when you least expect it.

Have you had a chance to Pay It Forward recently?