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It is hard being on the road over 200 nights a year...away from your family, isolated in many ways. It definitely isn't for everyone. This blogs represents the thoughts of just one such person. Read along and find out if the road is for you.
This is my new blogchalk:
United States, Georgia, Gainesville, Unity of Gainesville, English, John, Male, reading, RE Investing. :)
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Thursday, October 02, 2003
Life really is too short (seemingly continued)
Wow! My life just past before my eyes and I was actually wondering if I was going to make it out alive on this flight. I am on a flight from Miami to Atlanta and the plane took off easily enough.
Suddenly, the plane lost power and simultaneously, we hit turbulence. Sitting in first class (a seemingly regular occurrence these days), the person next to me gave me a look that he had just as much concern on his face as my stomach felt.
I have to tell you that it was less than a comforting feeling. Although I had just spoke with all of the important people in my life, I was reaching for my cell phone and getting ready to tell some folks just how much they meant to me.
After the Artemus experience of the weekend, I have put some of my free time to thinking about how life goes so quickly and is this job something that I want to end up being the last thing I do. I really don’t think it is.
I felt like I let folks down when I wasn’t there when Artemus met his fate. Could I have been there? Yes, I could have. But I said to myself that it didn’t make sense to fly home on a Friday and back out on a Saturday evening. In the future, I have made a decision that if I don’t have someone special with me that I am going home. Even if it is just for a few hours.
Between this flight and Artemus’ passing, I fully realize how fragile life is. I am going to make changes. Sooner rather than later. Before it really is too late.
Blog on!
posted by John Panico at 6:20 AM
Monday, September 29, 2003
Back at it, but with a heavy heart.
I flew home on Saturday and rented a car courtesy of Da Company. If they end up charging me, so be it. On the other hand, I have saved them alot of money on this trip and they could give a little.
When I arrived back in Atlanta, it was about 5:45 and it was raining. Didn't matter. I was speeding to meet Julie at the church. I had called my minister and asked if Artemus could be buried on the church's property. She was so gracious in immediately agreeing. I was grateful and continue to be for the gesture.
Thunder and lightening was coming down in tremendous bolts as I jetted up the freeway. About 3 miles from Artemus final resting place, the skies just opened up and it stopped raining as the sun was about to set.
I met Julie and others at the church and before I dug his grave, took a moment with him. He looked so peaceful. Yet, still it was hard. Some folks are going to say it sounds stupid for a grown man to talk to a dead animal, but Artemus was definitely a part of my family and I wanted to tell him what he had meant to me and how much he was loved. And tearfully, I did just that.
I dug his grave in a place that the church is setting up to honor pets. Friends had come to the church to assist in his service so to speak. One lady from church wrote a poem for him and it was beautiful.
When it was all said and done, I was back at home at 9:30 and was mentally/physically drained. But I didn't have alot of time to rest.
I got up at 4:30 to catch the first flight back to Miami where I worked the Sunday doing upgrades.
I was thankful and openly grateful to the customer for accomodating me by starting a little later in the morning. I headed there straight from the airport and went right to work. I worked late, but got everything that they needed done.
Still, there is an ache in my heart this evening. I am tired and need some time to take this all in.
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