Charlotte only swam three events over the two days and her best showing (in terms of time improvement) came in the last event - 100 meters butterfly - where she clocked a 1:10.80, just a second short of a national qualifying time.
Back in Cambridge, I tried to get my fix at Starbucks again this morning. This time with a double espresso...but it still didn't measure up. Today's reunion breakfast was a farewell brunch, and so lasted well over 2 hours as we hopped from table to table saying our good-byes, and giving hugs and kisses all around. Then I returned to our dorm to do a little yoga (boy was I sore from that massage yesterday), and pack up my belongings. I had brought two huge duffel bags as my sister was taking one (full of winter clothes) back with her to Detroit, and I packed all my new (summer) purchases in the other to bring back with me to Rome
I still had time to go shopping for the kids at the GAP while I waited to meet Niki and Tod. That's just what Italy is missing: the GAP. Once Niki and Tod arrived we walked back to the Yard and dropped their luggage off in my dorm room. I had seen tour groups coming through the Yard all weekend long, with energetic student guides spouting off all kinds of interesting, historical information. Today, a tour was organized for the 25th reunion class and I thought it might be fun to join. Niki was reluctant, but humored us. The guide was late, but the tour eventually got underway. It was, indeed, interesting. I never knew where John Adams, John Hancock or Sam Adams lived. I never knew why there were divots in the ground in front of Hollis Hall. I did know the "three lies" about the John Harvard statue, but had forgotten. Also forgotten, was why freshman were required to take a swim test in my day (Harry Widener, of Widener Library fame, died on the Titanic and his mother, before bequeathing the funds for the construction of the library, mandated that all entering freshman pass a 50 yard swim test!). Due to the Americans with Disabilities Act, this swim test is no longer required.
My friend, Sheryl, came in to Cambridge to meet us for lunch, and we cut the tour short because it was already 2pm, but it had been fun -- at least for me, now that I'm a professional tour taker. It was another gorgeous day in Cambridge -- picture perfect. The four of us walked over to Charlie's -- one of the few eateries from 1985 that still remains in Harvard Square. It was so nice spend this time with Sheryl, and Niki and Tod. I did wonder though what would happen if we didn't collect our luggage from the dorm room by 3pm as we were ordered to do at registration. Shortly, we found out when my key card no longer worked for entrance into the dorm!! Luckily for us, there was a family of stragglers coming out, and they let us in! Now, with luggage in hand, there was not much more to do but find a taxi to the airport.
As we schlepped all (my) stuff into the Square (thanks to Sheryl, there were four of us), a driver saw us coming and flagged us down. He offered us a ride to the airport in his van for a fixed price. That was a great idea since, come to think of it, how would all three of us and all our luggage fit into just one taxi cab. I said my good-byes to Sheryl, and the three of us piled into the van. The driver did not stop talking for the entire ride to the airport. At that point, I thought he should have been paying us...to listen.
I got out of the van (at the first possible opportunity) with Niki and Tod, and bid them adieu before walking over to the international terminal. I had plenty of time but the security system is comprised exclusively of x-ray style machines now, and thus the wait times much longer. Eventually, I made it through to the other side, and boarded my flight for my return to Rome.
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