We'll leave the light on for you
Just like Tom Bodett, we left the light on last night, not just the front porch light, but a lamp in the living room. Pure Luck, you see, is coming home. And when you work in the nuclear power industry, you never know just when. Yesterday he signed in for his last night shift of this particular job, somewhere around 5 p.m., not knowing whether he would be putting in the usual 12 hours or something shorter. At this particular plant, the last shift has been anything from a full night to eight hours to, once, very excitingly, just four (though he was paid for the full night).
I left the befuddled dogs in the modestly-lit living room and went up to bed just after 9.
I started waking up every so often around a quarter to 3. It was not lost on me that I needed my sleep in order to put over a sermon about 10 bridesmaids who fell asleep waiting for a bridegroom whose arrival time came later than expected.
I tried his cell phone, but it went straight to voice mail. I knew he would turn it on as soon as he left the plant. Clearly, the day, or night, had been longer than eight hours.
I tried his phone again about 5:50 a.m. It rang! He was on the road, about an hour into his three hour journey, but planning to stop and nap. They let him go a generous (sigh) half-hour early.
By the time he gets here, the front porch light will no longer be needed, and I will be off to church. I turned off the lamp and snuggled in the dim light of morning with a big dog instead of my bridegroom. I will miss the snuffling and whining and exclaiming of their reunion, but I know the dogs will keep the light of love on while they await his return.
Ah, I'm happy he's coming home Songbird. Happy reunion to you both. The light of love is all that's needed... hey, wish I'd thought of that for my sermon!
Posted by: Magdalene | Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 08:21 AM
YEAH!!!!
I'm glad he's coming home. I'm sure as I'm writing this, Pure Luck is walking in the door and the dogs are in jubilation.
Posted by: god_guurrlll | Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 08:26 AM
Yeah! Welcome home, PL!
Posted by: Mary Beth | Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 10:52 AM
That's the nicest thing I've heard or read all day...Happy homecoming, Pure Luck :-)
Posted by: Kathryn | Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Sweet! Welcome Home Pure Luck! Woof!
Posted by: stcasserole | Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 08:12 PM
which means that he is now home!!! safe and sound I hope!
Posted by: mompriest | Sunday, November 09, 2008 at 10:04 PM
I hope he is safely home and that you had a good night's sleep last night.
Posted by: Ruth Hull Chatlien | Monday, November 10, 2008 at 08:36 AM
Welcome home!!
Posted by: ccw | Monday, November 10, 2008 at 11:13 AM
That is a beautiful post. My heart is melting. Thank you.
Posted by: Katherine | Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 01:33 PM