Missing my Girl

Whew!  I made it to Vegas, barely.  Since my last post, it has been touch and go at airports.  When we left Indy on Wednesday, it was snowing but we made it to Philly.  Then after a great meeting and wonderful dinner with one of my largest customers in Philly it was off to bed and up early for another snowy drive to the airport.  Our flight to Toronto was delayed by an hour, but we still made it.  Once we were in Toronto, we had more great meetings with Loblaw buyers on Thursday and another wonderful dinner and it was off to the hotel via another snowy and WINDY drive.  We made it to the hotel and were very thankful that we didn’t have a meeting until 9 am the next day.  Getting up at 3 to 4 am everyday EST (midnight to 1 am PST) is hard on the body.  It was even harder to get to bed at a decent hour because I would be trying to watch the Olympics and here on the east coast it would be midnight and I still wouldn’t know who the winner was!  So, after more meetings in Toronto on Friday, it was off to the airport Friday afternoon for my 8:40 pm flight to meet my honey in Vegas.  Security and Customs were awful – long lines and the last minute decision that coming back into the US you can only have 1 carry on bag.  Basically, my purse – that is it.  So, here I am in the airport terminal rearranging my computer bag to hold all the necessary items a girl could need if she got stranded in the airport overnight.  Then I had to fit the rest of what was in my briefcase and my purse into the already overweight and overstuffed suitcase.  But I made it.

So, there I was – in the airport, in Toronto – with a horizontal wind that is blowing snow all over the place.  Flights are cancelling, gates are switching, people are upset, tired and complaining and here I sit.  I am looking out the window at snow plows, several of them, some with blades as big as combines going back and forth, back and forth for hours pushing snow. Finally, our plane arrives and we are onboard, de-icing, it is only 30 minutes later than when we were supposed to leave.  But I am so grateful for God’s provision.  We made it!  All the weather, all the flights, all the customers!  Done.  Accomplished!  Now, I am anxiously awaiting meeting my hubby in Vegas.  Now, if I could only get over this sinus infection – my head was throbbing, I swear it was the worst sinus infection I have ever had.  There has to be doctors in Vegas, right?!  Urgent care something.

Six hours later, I am landing in Vegas.  I step off the plane and check my messages and my good friend Shalise, is coming to my rescue.  She is a RN.  She is offering to call in antibiotics to a pharmacy and she is coming to Vegas too.  She is my doctor!  Thank you God for all your provisions! 

I step out of the terminal to hail a cab, it is midnight here and the warm 40 degree air feels so good!  I am out of the frozen tundra.  No more blast of sub zero air that hits your face and chills you to the bone.  YEAH!  I will admit it.  I am a west coast wimp.  It is so cold over there it will make you cuss! 

I arrive to the hotel and fall into the arms of my loving husband.  Man is it good to be somewhat home in his arms.  Then he tells me that the car, is having transmission troubles.  We agree to worry about it in the morning along with getting the antibiotics. 

In the morning, we ask the hotel staff for 2 things.  The closest auto mechanic and pharmacy!  Probably two of the most unlikely questions to be asked.  But the pharmacy was down the street and the staff person’s husband was a mechanic – Go Figure, God you are providing again.  So we get all those things situated and enjoy the afternoon shopping and taking a nap.  Then another wonderful dinner and a good nights rest!

It is Sunday!  It is early – we are on the bus on the way to the track!  Today, Jason and I are guests of Dupont – so I guess that means I have to pretend to be a Gordon fan, right – well I can fake it.  Hospitality Suite at the track, pit passes, Neon Garage passes – seeing Harvick’s car go through inspection – watching the crews glue lug nuts onto the rims!  It was awesome!  The race – we are 17 rows up  - center of the front stretch – it was way COOL!  I love NASCAR!  So, I am secretly listening to Harvicks crew on the radio – surrounded by all these Jeff Gordon fans – and I am so thrilled that Harvick is passing cars left and right – up through the pack – from 36th to 2nd !  With each car passed – I nudge Jason and give him a thumbs up – he laughs.  Pretty cool!  Even better when he passed Jeff Gordon from 3rd to 2nd!  I could hardly contain myself!  Great day! Perfect  weather – 64, sunny, with clouds!

So now it is Monday, the day we were to come home.  It is day 8 without seeing my girl.  I miss her.  Jason and I are taking advantage of the time together.  But I still miss her.  Last night she didn’t want to talk to me.  Cry, Cry, Sob, Sob – Grandma tells me she is tired – no nap!  Ok, I say – give her a kiss for me and I will call in the morning.  Phew, she talked to me this morning – happy and chipper just like normal.  Thank you God!  The status of the car, transmission is gone – won’t make it home – has to be repaired – will take the shop until Tuesday afternoon to fix it.  Another day without seeing my girl.  I am sad – wanting to be home – yet trying to enjoy this special time with hubby.  Even he is missing her.  I called Grandma hoping to Skype – her internet is down.  I hope she can get if fixed tonight.  I need to see my girl! 

Melanie talked to me this afternoon, she is really having fun with Grandma, but when I told her I would be home tomorrow she screamed for joy!  She is excited to see the book that I got for her!  The ABC’s of Canada – really cute!  (Jason and her followed my trip on the map, so I thought a book about Canada would be appropriate.

Business travel, I am thankful that I don’t have to do too much of it.  I never like to leave, but when I do I try to make the best of it and take advantage of it.  It does give me time to myself!

Signing off for now.  Hopefully, tomorrow we will be HOME and I can hug my babygirl so tightly and see her smiling face.