Today’s the day.

He sees his friends and forgets that he’s supposed to hug me. I’m leaving!

We are on the highway. It is still foggy upvalley. I think about how lucky I am that I get to come back home to this. In all the places I’ve lived, there has never been a place I’ve wanted to come back to more than here.

I delete all of the social media apps from my phone. No Instagram, Threads, Facebook. Addition by subtraction.

I remind him I’ve flown before; I’m not a kid.

Fingerprints and eye scans to keep on your shoes. The things we do for convenience.

Decaf and water.

I somehow missed the sign. I am not where I’m supposed to be. Still not where I’m supposed to be. Still not where I’m supposed to be. Still not where I’m supposed to be. Thank goodness for a three-hour layover.

Another delay.

I tell him that I finished the last 100 pages of my book, read a twenty-page article, and the sample winery business plan. I should have packed more books.

“People who are smart and ambitious but don’t achieve much tend to become bitter.”

“Curiosity at its best is a creative force.”