Race Schedule and Results

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Cherished Time


You know the saying "you don't know how much something means until it's gone"?  Holy heck is that statement so true.

I'll be honest - I've been missing my hubby something fierce.  You have to understand that I spend 99% of my day in the same room with him.  We wake up next to each other, eat breakfast together, hit the office together, have lunch together, work some more together, workout together, cook dinner together, eat and relax at night together and then go to bed together.  I know, I know... how do we do it?  Most people who hear about our lifestyle respond with "there's no way I could spend that much time with my spouse" to which I respond "yeah, it works for us" (while I'm secretly sad that they don't share that bond that Tom and I have, but I digress).  In any event, so to go from that to possibly getting to talk to a sleep deprived version of him maybe 6-10 minutes TOTAL in a day, on a good day, is really really tough.

They've been gone since 10/28.  And while I'm making it through each day just fine (I think it's a little harder for the spouse sitting at home waiting for the calls that the spouse busy with stuff away from home), I was super excited to get to meet the RV's last night just southeast of Columbus to bring them dinner and get a much needed hug from the hubster.

It was fabulous!

I asked all week what they would want to eat and I got a resounding "salad".  Weird, right?  So I made a big salad, but I also made pulled pork, homemade mac and cheese and two pans of brownies (I know the way to a man's heart is through their stomachs - hello.. that's how I keep Tom happy.  I'm no dummy!)

When I got there, the three overnight guys were just waking up.  I caught up with Dave, Karen and Michael (the amazing crew), and a few Sanofi reps had come out so we caught up with them.  We got the overnight guys fed and waited patiently for the day crew of 7 to come in.
I was like a kid at Christmas waiting for my present, a hug from Tom, to arrive.

They got in around 6:30 and when I saw him, I just held on.  We both needed that.  I know that he's really struggled out on the road and well, I have struggled with him out on the road.


The guys quickly got their stuff transitioned, put some warm clothes on and piled in the RV.  You would have thought that I brought them piles of $100 bills the way they smiled when they saw the food.  I know that Karen is feeding them well, but maybe this was a nice treat (momma got a night off and the boys got a full belly!).  They are all so skinny... and scruffy... and a tad slappy, but morale is high and they are pushing toward NYC at a blazing pace.  It's been a tough journey, but they are tough guys.  Amazing guys really.
When they loaded the RV's up to get on the road, I asked Crew Chief Dave if I could drive Tom to the next stop. He said as long as I didn't kidnap him and bring him home!!  I wanted those extra minutes with him (which turned out to be nearly two more hours).  We just sat in the car and talked.  We smiled.  It was like we had a lifetime of catching up to do.

And really, we did.  Two weeks apart leaves a lot to be discussed. :)

I didn't take Tom home last night - I brought him to the RV's where he got another broken night's sleep I'm sure. Selfishly I would have loved to, but I know how far they have some as a team and they will finish this journey as a team.  Plus, I only have three more full days until I see him again.  And I'll cherish that time with him even more.

38 comments:

Matty O said...

wow, you really can see he has lost weight! Love the pic :)

Team mom strikes again!

I totally get your relationship with Tom, that's the same as Heather and mine, I think that is what makes us able to enjoy racing together AND work together AND do everything together. I get it. To those who don't, sucks to be them.

I can capture how happy you are too in this post haha 3 days!!!!!!!!

Kristin Deaton said...

I just teared up a little Colleen. I know you just ate up those 2 extra hours with Tom. You two are just the epitome of relationship. Love you much and those three days will go by fast.

Gotta Run..... said...

It had to be super hard to send him off again but I can only imagine how epic his journey has already been. Cherished moments... less than 3 days now.

Great post!

Lauren said...

i love the relationship you have with your hubs :)

hooray for getting to see him!

Kim said...

aw colleen - so so happy you finally got to see tom!!! i love love!

Heather-O said...

Holy skinny Tom! He looks SO exhausted in that picture. Glad you two were able to spend the much needed time together! You are glowing with happiness in that picture!!!!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

This is awesome, great to hear you got to spend some time with him

Kacie Darden said...

Love the update! I am jealous that you guys normally get that much time together!!! Such a great update!

Jason said...

That is just awesome. So happy to hear that you to spend time and then extra time with Tom.

BTW - did you ask him about Thinking Tebow?

Matthew Smith said...

You've got me choking up a little bit! I'm glad you finally got to see Tom for a little bit. It'll be great here in a couple days when they are done. They truly are AMAZING!

Wes said...

AWESOME! AWESOME! you guys are so cute together!! FYI: some pancetta or bacon top of that mac-n-cheese and you don't need ANYTHING else!! :-D

adena said...

I love this. So often you hear about the bad relationships or the bad bits. and I love hearing about you guys. It really sets a standard when dating, don't accept anything less than your best friend.

TriMOEngr said...

Completely awesome! So glad you got to spend some precious time with Tom. Glad to hear that they were lifted up by your food and your presence. Continuing to keep them in my prayers as they push on.

misszippy said...

Awww...I love this, Colleen! I'm sure Tom was buoyed in a big way to continue on after seeing you. What an amazing thing they are doing. Can't wait to hear how it finishes out.

Unknown said...

That has to be one of the most endearing posts I've read in a long time! I love to hear how happy couples can be! Kuddos to both of you and good luck Tom!

Steve said...

I don't think I ever spent more than a few days away from my wife, and don't think I'd like it. We work together too. Hang in the next 3 days. :)

Unknown said...

I almost cried too! I am so glad you had this opportunity to see Tom, and I know the whole team appreciated you meeting up with them.

While I never worked right along side Ryan, we did have desks not terribly far from each other for a while, and worked in the same building for a lot of the time as well. The thing I miss most about working is eating lunch with Ryan. When Keira was first born and we lived right by the plant, I would sometimes meet him for lunch a few times a week, but it was hard with a new baby to get out with just a few minutes notice that I would get since lunchtime is not really predictable in the plant. I would sometimes look forward to Ryan forgetting important work stuff at home like his cell phone or computer so I could run it down to him at lunch. I have only been able to do that once since we moved :(

Unknown said...

Tom does look skinny!!! Wow, I need to go run cross country to drop some lbs!!

Awesome you got to catch up in the car for a couple of hours!

How skinny is Ben now? Dude was already skinny, you'd probably miss him if he turned sideways now!

Jon said...

Exciting! What is the ETA for NYC arrival this weekend?

Ironman By Thirty said...

Holy crap! Look at Mr. Skinny! He is going to either need to eat junk food for a week or two after he is done or get a whole new wardrobe!

While Jennie and I aren't together throughout the entire day like you and Tom, I totally get home much time you spend together. Life is much more fun when spent together.

I can't believe how well the guys are doing! Ok, I can believe because they are all awesome, but it is still so incredible to think about all they have accomplished!

PS: Nice shirt! Is that a new one from PCB?

Caroline said...

oh I love this post
it is a precious thing to have a loving relationship
not everyone gets this in their life...
the end is near!
good luck to Tom for the last days!

Aimee said...

Aww..this was such a sweet post. It sounds like you two have such a wonderful, amazing, loving relationship! Yay for being able to see him again and spend some extra time together! :) I'll be sending speed vibes your way in hopes that the next 3 days go by very quickly!

Unknown said...

I HEAR YA girl!!!! My man is back home home now (deployment for 10 months), and I freaking LOVE all the day-to-day time I get to spend with him again! I'm sad that you have to miss him and live your daily life "alone"...especially in your brand-new house... but it will be that much sweeter when he gets home :) Lots of love and thoughts sent your way!

MissFancyPants said...

I love this post too! He is doing so great!

Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman said...

So happy for you! Of course for being able to see the hubs, but moreso for the fact that you have the kind of relationship. I totally hear you on wishing everyone had it. You know it's a great match when you PREFER being around each other and don't wish for "space."

Keep it up and you'll be back to "normal" soon!

Carolina John said...

2 pans of brownies for a bunch of diabetics? That sounds off to me haha. I'm so glad you got to see him finally. Kelley and I worked together long before we had kids, so I got a lot of the same questions.

Caratunk Girl said...

OMG!! He looks so freaking skinny!! I love the picture of you two together. SO glad you got to see him - it must have been so hard not to kidnap him. ha ha

Tri To Do It All said...

Awesome post. It is nice to hear that there are other couples out there that really enjoy each other.

Jennie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jennie said...

What Tom is doing is exceedingly awesome, but to be apart for so many days with such limited communication must've been so difficult! I'm glad that it's almost time for you and Tom to be together again! Woohoo!! :)

Anne-Marie said...

aww, what a sweet post!! I'm so glad you got to meet up with Tom and spend some extra time in the car together. You'll be reunited soon!!! :)

Molly said...

this journey that they are on is just amazing. I can tell how happy you are by the picture!

Alisa said...

Awww must have been so great to see him, even if you couldn't take him home with you!

Salad--love it. I crave salad on the road too I couldn't imagine eating RV food for days on end.

DRog said...

their journey sounds TOTALLY amazing...great news you were able to connect with him -- i need some of that scrawniness I am starting to swell!

D

DRog said...

their journey sounds TOTALLY amazing...great news you were able to connect with him -- i need some of that scrawniness I am starting to swell!

D

Kristin Bradfield said...

What an amazing thing they are doing! You must be so proud, just think how much more you will love being with him when he gets home :)

rhino said...

great read & what an adventure!!

N.D. said...

this is so sweet! I love that you are best friends.