Don't Panic

It's been a while since I've posted here. Hubby keeps it updated a bit better now that he has consistent internet service and we've kind of settled into a routine at home....but.... I have something to share today.

Hubby and I tend to check in with each other a few times a day. I'll usually call him when I'm on my way to work and he usually calls me when I get off work. Most nights he'll call me before he goes to bed. I think the latter is just self-preservation. He's always in different time zones so I might call at 8pm here and wake him up at 11pm there. We also call each other randomly when the thought crosses our minds.

One day (ok maybe more than one day) I didn't call in the morning. I didn't call at lunch. When we finally connected hubby said I was in "trouble" because I didn't check in so he jokingly made up a new rule. I must call on my way to work. I must call at lunch and I must call when I get off work. I know it was a joke, but since I'm a smart @ss, I do it.

"Hi honey, just doing my mandatory check-in."

Well on Monday we talked around 10:30am.

At lunch I called for my "check-in." - No answer

After work I called for my "check-in" - No answer

Hmmmm... he's on a 34 hour restart, maybe he's sleeping.

After I got done working for my old boss a couple of hours later I called again - Lazy bum is still sleeping.

Next morning I called again - No answer

Ok, so now I'm worried. Not even Rick can sleep that long.

I called. And called. And called. We called from different numbers so the phone would ring differently. We left voicemails. We sent text messages. - No answer.

The phone was ringing so I knew it was getting service. Usually it will go straight to voicemail if he's out of service or if the phone is dead.

Finally I called dispatch and left a message with his dispatcher to ask him to call home.

1 hour later - no response.

I called dispatch again and left another message - no response.

Ok, so now I am beyond panicked!

What if he had a stroke or a heart-attack and he's laying in his truck. He's on a 34 hour restart so the company isn't going to be worried that he's not moving....hmmmm...

Finally I call dispatch again and this time I didn't ask for his dispatcher. I just relayed my sordid tale.

"Hi I'm Rick ____'s wife in truck number _____. I'm sorry to bother you, but I haven't been able to reach my husband. It's been almost 24 hours and he usually calls several times a day. Has he done his check call today?"

"Yes Ma'am. He checked in about an hour ago."

"Oh good, thank you for the peace of mind. Can you send him a message to call me, something must be wrong with his phone."

One minute later the phone rang and I burst into tears.

Something is wrong with his cell phone battery. Looks like a trip to the Sprint store is in our future. In the meantime, hubby better start following his own rules. My heart can't take it.

(A big thank you to SRT dispatch. They were very kind and helpful! By the way, his dispatcher wasn't ignoring me....we think she had the day off or something... Hubby was on someone else's board for the day.)