We packed our two checked bags, one carry-on, and two personal items over the course of the day, making sure batteries were charged and our camping gear was compressed. We went to bed at 8 pm while the sky still had light and I couldn’t help but think of all those times as a kid wondering if I was being punished as the day went on without me. This was the sentiment Caleb expressed as I asked him not to wake me if he chose to stay up.

He preferred to help me sleep and wake before me, as is our usual, but 3 am is still early. We had gone out for dinner (as an anti-dishes excuse) so I had some pineapple salsa mahi mahi on our way out the door and a fruit popsicle to help with my breath. I check on our frog friend and send them to the dark side of the plant in my excitement at seeing their little eyes. In the Uber, I realized I had been attacked viciously and was growing a second lateral malleolus (aka a mosquito bite).

We ride to the airport in silence while I read about Uber’s new audio recording option for more safety as a passenger at night and Caleb looks up the weight of a Tesla battery vs other cars’ engines. I also wonder if our driver is falling asleep as he continually shifts speed and lays his head on his pillow. Tesla makes a ding to alert drivers that the light has turned green, such convenience. In the security line, a guy turns around to find out I’m not his wife, but I let him know we could still chat.

Caleb lets the couple rejoin and then we get to deal with the TSA trays. Historically, the passenger had to stay with their bag, but now the agent pushes the bins along in no order as I’m told to wait as I make room for mine as he continues to push them forward. Our carry-on gets flagged for the mango (I found on a walk that’s not ripe yet) in a reusable mug and we are on our way to do a crossword puzzle on the plane until Caleb’s neighbor decided to talk through the boarding.

Up in the air, I switch between reading about Madame Restell and staring at the ever-changing sky: dark shades of orange, bright blue, and white streaks creating another sea over the Gulf of Mexico (or whatever it’s called now). The clouds constantly ask for my attention and I’m willing to oblige until the white sun pierces my eyes and convinces me to get back to reading if I want to keep my vision, which is still 20/20 at my appointment this week.

The optometrist also fully dilated my eyes – I would not recommend it, as I spent the morning with my mydriatic glasses on under my sunglasses, and most of the afternoon with my shades on. Anyway, we land in San Francisco, grab a meal, and walk a few terminals until Caleb has the idea to sit by our gate so I can get some writing done. He saw how long our trip to the Netherlands took to post with me just taking notes. I love that he makes space for my interests.

The plane we get on is a flying Motel 6. My “window” seat is actually where two panels used to come together, so I take a peek inside… omg, why would I be ok with that… because everyone else seems to think we’re on Spirit Airlines or a child’s art project too. Though, I worried on the first flight that the seat in front of me was going to fall back into my lap at some point as the woman in it tossed about to get comfortable. Caleb is able to sneak up on Jessi while we wait at baggage claim.

I was still hiding behind a column by the rental car desk and laughed. This provided amusement to the man behind the counter as well. Jake drives us to the house, where their street is in ruins (piping under repairs), to drop our bags. Then the six of us make a trip to the store so we can have brownies and lasagna for dinner, in that order. We watch Onyx the Fortuitous as our evening entertainment, which it definitely provides. Caleb and I will for the second night climb into bed while the sky is still lit, if less so.