This is the first time

This is the first time in 20 yrs that I have been alone for longer than 5 days. My wife and kids left to go to our former home state for two weeks. Me? I can’t go because I have to work. I did not work for many years and was a stay at home Dad… Catching untold rafts of shit for not jumping back into the workforce. Then, when I go back to work everyone wants me to go on vacation. I have been at the new job for three months and already gone on vacation once. Go figure. Life throws me some big ones but I must remain true to my simple principles and do the next right thing. This time meant staying home with the beast aka dog. Beast sounds much better though.So my home feels like there has been a death in the family…in the sense that it is eerily silent. It’s really weird. None of the daily incessant cacophony my kids generate. Maybe this IS peace. Haven’t known that for some time…..