I knew it was going to be a long day, but I didn’t think it’d be this long. I nearly forgot to blog, something that shocked the heck out of me.

The day before a trip is always the longest — for me, anyway. Part of it is driven by my need to have things in order at the casa, lest I never return home again. This time, however, I have neighborly eyes to tidy up for. One will be watching my elderly cat, so all the cleaning that I should’ve done over the weekend got jammed into tonight. Fantastic.

Today was even more painful because I’ve been up since 4am — why, I have no clue. Too much on the noggin, perhaps. I had a new employee start today, a new business pitch happened today, and then you have mi madre in the hospital for surgery. That’s quite a day even leaving travel out of the equation. Oh, and let’s not forget the nail I broke tonight while packing, as well as the not-so-undercover blemish I located. Thanks, universe. I knew I could count on you.

I’m dead-tired, but I’ll be able to collapse in my seat on the plane in a matter of hours. I just hope I can keep my eyes open long enough to order — then consume — a screwdriver, after which I have big plans to catch some shut-eye at 36,000 feet.

I don’t know what kept me going today, but I’m sure it’s a mix of duty, desire and character. Those times in life where our world demands that we power through are sometimes the most trying. We know something good is waiting for us, and it’s almost a cruel joke to have to work so hard for it. But when we do, and when we finally get there, isn’t the reward sweet?

Tonight I am thankful for the tiny, hidden reserve of energy that powered me through the evening, and for the breather that a direct flight across the country promises.