I am on a business trip right now, and I miss my wife. And my son, and my pup too.

When the conversation comes up, I say to my colleagues, “It’s really hard to be away from my family for so long.”

And folks will kindly suggest that I’m a newlywed and a new father. That the feeling of longing will wear off, and that I’m still influenced by the newness of these relationships. And that in a few years, I’ll look forward to business trips or nights off or some other kind of time away from them.

And they may be right, but I hope they’re wrong. Right now, being away for even one day is too long, and I hope it stays that way.