Day Seven: Day Before Launch

I’m packing my bags and Lyla has been acting funny.  She is mopey.  She won’t eat.  I give her a biscuit and she spits it out.  She has never done that before.  I wonder if she has learned that suitcases equal my leaving.  I assure her, “you’re coming with me this time! Don’t worry!”  Then I start to worry.  What if she is sick?  Maybe I should take her to the vet tomorrow before leaving.

I meet my friends Kate and Sima at Basta Pasta on 17^th Street for dinner.  Kate’s friend Aron joins us and tells us about his races across Europe and the US.  He has some incredible stories.

After dinner we head to Raines Law Room for drinks and conversation.  We walk outside and it is snowing.  I wonder if I will be able to leave tomorrow.  Kate forbids it, insisting that it is not worth the risk.  I know she is right and although I am anxious to go, I need to be safe.  So I decide that I won’t go at 8am as planned and then I join Kate, Aron and Sima for karaoke across the street.