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| Dumb, real dumb. |
Let me begin with: everything turned out ok. So, Randy
and I totally screwed up our sleep schedules. We arrived in Italy at 3:30
Italian time, 10:30 Eastern Standard time; after a night of minimal sleep
aboard a plan with two dogs. We were greeted by several members of our new
squadron.
Our sponsors took us to our TLF (temporary housing) and were so
generous to give us a bag of groceries. I fell asleep (against my will and
better judgment) at about 5:30. At 10:00 pm I woke up and realized I was
screwed-I was awake according to no kind of time zone. I accepted my fate and
decided to take the dogs out. We’re on the first floor, but it’s actually one
above ground level. I couldn’t find the
stairs so I took them on the elevator.
The door to the elevator had closed when
I realized I had Nina’s leash in my hand, that it was connected to her, and
that she was NOT IN THE ELEVATOR. I quickly pressed the open door button, but
it rudely did not comply and I tossed the handle in the air and watched it raise
one floor above me. My inner monologue screamed “this is my worst nightmare”
while I tried to find the staircase after I left the elevator. I didn’t and ran
back on the elevator, went back up one floor, and found my little dog. She was
unscathed and oblivious and still attached. WOW. I realized I better wake up
and get my head on straight before I dismember my pets. The irony is that Nina
is scared of wood floors and her harness, but her near death experience went by
completely unnoticed. Geez-welcome to Italy.
