As I prepare to walk out the door to leave home for a driving job in Tennessee, I look down at five sad little Schnauzer faces. They see my over-night bag and watch as I put on
My heavy winter jacket and pull on my favorite University of Michigan ball-cap.

They know this is it. Pop’s leaving and not just for a few hours, this will be for weeks.

It’s hard enough on my wife and I because we at least understand why it’s happening.

There are no jobs in our state and life goes on, regardless of your ability to pay bills.

But to dogs…all they see and understand is that an over-night bag means you’re not coming right back.

I walk around the foyer and give each pup a kiss on the head and promise that I’ll be back
Soon and that I’ll always love them. Their eyes reflect deep sadness and plead with me not to go.

Macintosh has never been away from either of us so this is especially difficult for him.

He jumps on me and paws at my chest. His whimpering tells me that he is begging me to change my mind and stay home where I belong.
“Oh, if only I could, baby…” I respond as tears fill my eyes.
As I turn to walk out the door I whisper a prayer; “Lord, give me the strength and the courage to do this…”

After I climb aboard the Greyhound bus to drive me away from my family and home, I look out the big window and wave a sad goodbye to my loving wife. As I see her tears fall down her pretty face, my own blind my vision… “I love you, Jan, with all my heart and I’ll be home soon.”

People don’t understand why it hurts us so deeply to be away from each other.

We’ve been married for 20 years and were a truck-driving team for 16 years.

We were together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
That’s true love, folks! We are soul mates and both feel incomplete without the other.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life but marrying Jan was the one thing I did right.

I thank God each day for bringing her into my life and blessing our marriage.

Goodbye for now, my darling… always remember I love you more than life itself…