Once reality hit us that they were coming back, everything became difficult.

"But reality has not hit at the local level yet."

The reality of middle age had hit me hard at the farm.

With the final approval, the reality of the situation hit me.

"I think probably reality hit him sometime in the last 24 to 36 hours."

Just as quickly, though, the reality of that hit him.

I turned away, taking a deep breath as the reality of my situation hit me.

Only when I was standing there did the reality hit me.

"Everybody knew the lower stores sales were coming, but reality hit the market in the face," he said.

With that one phone call, the reality of the Iraq war hit home.