You know, I'm not concerned with a lot about the trip. We've learned a lot so far, prepared well, set our expectations, etc.  I think we'll leave with as much confidence as I have as possible for a trip like this.

However, our dog Amos is on both of our minds a lot these days.  He's 11 years old and slowing down a lot. He'll be staying home with Mark, Sachi's brother, who is living in our house and there is no one we'd rather leave Amos with than Mark. He'll be happy here.

The problem is us.  Already, I dread leaving that mutt and I'm sure Sachi does too.  As he's gotten to be an old man, he's gotten even sweeter and Sachi makes sure that he is spoiled every minute he can be spoiled, including being covered with a blanket when he lays down.

We're facing not being a part of one of his last years, and that's quite sad for us.  We have all the faith he'll be around when we return, but the thought of him not being here is almost too much to bear.  The last thing we want is for our goodbyes in a couple of months to be the last.

Alas, we know he's doing well now and will be very well cared-for while we're gone, in his own bed (and maybe Mark's sometimes).  As we reminded ourselves last night, he is a dog and not a human and we shouldn't assign human emotions and rationality to him- we hope that he doesn't even realize how long we're gone and when we come back it'll be like we went on a really, really long trip to the store.