The (hopefully) Last Full Day in Craig, Colorado

Morning comes quietly inside the RV, which is still parked inside the shop. The hum of the garage furnace clicks on, blowing out heat to keep the garage at a constant 60-degrees.

Final grades are due today, but I still have to grade final exams for two classes, pack up the office, turn in my keys, give a final ukulele lesson to a young student, and submit an assessment report for the college administration. It's not even six a.m., but I'd better get crack-a-lackin' if I want to get everything done.

By 7:30, I'm ready to step out the door, but Buena is still curled up in bed, ignoring my pleas to get up. In turn, I do the one thing that will make her spring out of bed. I get the moist dog food and open the lid.

Her feet hit the floor. In a moment, she's beside me, looking up to the counter.

"Where's your dish?" I ask.

She scurries around the darkened room looking for the plastic dish she's currently using until the water dish in my office becomes her food dish once again.

My office.... I've got so much to pack up, I think as I put her food dish on the floor and gather what I'll need for the day.

While Buena eats, I jump outside the RV to unplug the orange extension cord that powers my little space heater. At the front of the RV, I peek under the hood and look at the engine.

The empty cavity is slowly filling back up. The wheel-things that the belts attach to are back on. It looks like some other stuff is also attached. I really hope it gets done in time. I'm supposed to pick up Larry at the Hayden airport in the morning. He'll be driving the minivan for me, while I'll be driving the RV. We'll meet in Havasu on Sunday, and I'll drive him up to Vegas so he can catch his plane back to St. Louis. The RV only travels 55-60 miles per hour, so it's imperative that we leave Craig as soon as possible. Piece of cake, right?

I look back inside the engine and count what still needs to be attached: the radiator, fan, hoses, timing belt, and... Maybe that's it. Maybe it will get done today.

Stepping outside the garage, the cold white fog envelopes me in this small ecosystem of the college. I feel like I'm in a snow globe where the only reality is this tight space in front of the shop. I can't even see the hills.

I load up the car while Buena hops around on the cold ground. The car temperature reads 18-degrees.

When Buena is finished, she hops back toward the garage, and I put her inside the bedroom where she will spend the morning while I grade.

Having no electric to power my fridge, I take myself to the Starbucks at the grocery store for a bacon, egg, and Gouda sandwich and a tea. That and a few oranges will power me through the morning.

I arrive back at the school at 8:04, and the lot is empty. Usually the shop guys are here by now.

It's too early to start worrying about the RV being ready to roll tomorrow. (And worrying doesn't solve anything.) I grab my purse and computer bag and head inside to finish grading.