We’re leaving for Prague tonight, and several good omens have already occurred: As we were walking up Woodlawn to run some pre-trip errands, a siren-ing ambulance passed on the left. A moment later, the beautiful husky with notes of coffee in its coat that we sometimes say hello to on that street lifted its whole head and howled in a deeply resonant echo of its wolfy ancestors and the distress of the day. I realize that this might not seem like a good omen to everyone, but it did to me.

The other day, I heard (and we both saw) the first cardinal of the year, on the Midway.

Zheli has been making motions to wave goodbye to us with her foot, so I’m not too worried about her.