We're Beginning A New Journey in 2010 ...

After spending 21+ years as an over-the-road truck driver, my husband has decided to go back to school full time. He started classes today - Jan 11, 2010 - and is enrolled in an 8 month course of study that should, as we have been told, result in full time employment. This post-school-employment commitment was the key in making the decision to leave his previous job and enroll in school as a full-time student. And of course there is no time like the present. He's 50 years old. In 8 months he'll be close to 51 years old. He might as well get some education and a new career while he's aging. He has at least 15 more years in the workforce and he might as well spend that doing something he likes rather than loathing his job every single day.

Isn't it fabulous? Isn't it wonderful? Higher education, lofty goals, expanding his horizons; indeed, becoming the Renaissance Man we all know him to be. He may finally have found his niche. And it's a good thing because he's not getting any younger. Most people don't spend 50 years looking for their niche. By their 30's they've pretty much either figured it out or are drowning in diapers and are too tired to go looking for it. But not my husband. Being in the Navy didn't help. Being in the Merchant Marines didn't help. Going to Iraq didn't help. During his formative young-adult years being a nightclub bouncer, gun shop manager, computer fix-it geek, electrical contractor, truck driver, advertising salesman, taxi driver, insurance salesman, and Kentucky Fried Chicken fry cook (I know I'm probably leaving a lot out) did not provide enough experiences for him to formulate some idea of what he wanted to be when he grew up. He had to wait until he was 50 ... supporting a wife, 16 yr old son, and 3 dogs who need a safe, secure, and financially stable life in order to thrive ... before deciding he wanted to throw caution to the wind and jump off a cliff in order to explore a new career and find his niche. Isn't it fabulous?

All of which explains how I found myself in the kitchen at 5:30am this morning making breakfast, packing lunch boxes, and supervising the medicine-taking, chore-finishing, dog-feeding, gathering-your-stuff-so-you-don't-forget-anything-errands, and checking the weather to confirm that short sleeve t-shirts are not appropriate when it's only 19 degrees outside. Of everything I accomplished this morning the thing that I am most proud of is that I remembered to put on deodorant and a bra before leaving for work.

Women all over the country are performing this mind-numbing military operation every single morning. I'm not alone. I probably have an easier situation than most so I won't complain. But isn't it interesting how everyone's lives impact and influence what everyone else is doing? And all it takes for the whole thing to break down is one person to step out of bounds and disrupt the routine. I know there will be disruptions. I'm dealing with two people who have ADHD. I speak to them with one and two-syllable words in short, concise sentences. I've got about two minutes to make my point, issue commands, and demand some proof they heard and understood me before their eyes glaze over. So I am realistic enough to understand that there will never be a perfect morning in my house.

Today was probably as perfect as it is going to get. Everyone got up on time, dressed on time, ate their breakfast on time, and did their morning chores. On the way out the door I took them through the first of what will be many Pre-Weekday Departure Check Lists to verify they were prepared to leave the house:

• School books and papers? Check! Check!
• Lunch boxes? Check! Check!
• Cell phone, wallet, glasses, and keys? Check!
• School ID Badge, clean gym clothes, last Friday's homework? Check!
• Coats, hats, and gloves? Check! Check!
• Clean underwear?? Check! Check!

Then let's go gentlemen ....

And we're off ... like a herd of turtles ... welcome to the start of our new journey in 2010.