On my last two How Am I Doin' Fridays I had to cover the afternoon run for the other driver who was on vacation. That completely threw me off of my pre Shabbat routine.Today, things are back to normal. 
Until I parked the bus today, I did not realize how disruptive that extra commitment had been and how much I look forward to Fridays. It's not as if I shut down on Friday or that I don't work on Shabbat.It's more of a mindset thing.
Every Friday,no matter what else I have planned, I shop,and start preparing for our weekly Friday night Shabbat dinner.
Often I find myself scurrying around to make sure that all of the pieces are in place.But no matter what, my day is aimed for 6:30. When I finish my bus run, I can check that off of my list. When I finish shopping, I can check that off as well. 
Sometime mid afternoon, I can start putting things on the stove or in the oven. 
Shortly after 5, I begin setting the table ,often while listening to Shabbat music.
Friday is the one and only constant in my world.
So you can see how during the last two weeks,when in the middle of my day,I had to stop everything, drive the 25 minutes to pick up my bus, spend the next two hours on my run and then take the bus back and first head home, my Friday routine was set on its ear!
This left me feeling rushed . I never had the wind down time I have gotten used to over the last few years.Those few precious hours of preparation and the time I spend with my family at the end of that are the best time of my week.
I always new it was a special time for me. I just never realized how special.
I am glad to have that time back again this week.
I can not overstate just how important this time of the week is to me.
And I can say that I will never take it for granted again.
Shabbat Shalom!