Where are those keys….

Some of you know that Autumn’s car got broken into when we were at Rock-n-Romp a week or so ago. There was a little body damage where whoever it was popped the glass out with a screwdriver so that meant a little more time at the body shop. For this reason, I had to rent a car for a couple days last week. In all the Thursday excitement of returning the car by 6:00, picking up Autumn’s car by 6:30 and getting out of town for a little R&R, it’s a wonder that I only left my keys in the rental car. However, I didn’t know I left them there until this morning…

I spent hours Sunday evening searching for my keys. I had my stomach worked in knots trying to find them. But this is what I do – take something like lost keys and turn it into something huge that consumes me and, in turn, bugs the crap out of the people around me (Autumn).

I went by Enterprise on the way to work this morning and they had my keys. Crisis averted – but I was still upset, even after I got the keys and continued to work. Then, on the way to work, I realized how much I do this. I get worked up over the smallest things. One thing lately that I really find myself dwelling on is the time I don’t spend with my kids – or, maybe getting the most out of the time I am not at work and can spend time with Autumn and the girls. We are going to Florida next week and I will have 24/7 with them – that will be good. But somewhere inside, I still worry that as time ticks by faster and faster, I have lost so many moments to let my kids and my wife know how much they mean to me. I have had more than one person tell me I spend plenty of time with my family – more than what many get to spend, actually. That makes me feel good, but I can’t help but dwell on how many moments I think I am missing to teach my kids something or just to let them know what they mean to me.

How am I ever going to let them go to grandparents for the week/summer camp/college?