Preparing

Bean and I spent the day outdoors under wintry skies. Alternately stacking wood and lying supine, our faces soaking up sunlight as it shone through torn clouds. Bean loves to lie like this, head to head with me, watching the clouds pass. The trees at the edge of the meadow made a crown of twigs [...]

Joy

I talked tonight with a writer who was also my advisor throughout college. We haven’t talked in five years, and when I emailed her, I didn’t know what to expect. But there, suddenly on the phone was her soft southern drawl, her kindness, her wisdom traveling over the wires to me, and afterwards I just [...]

milestone

Bean has mastered the fine art of the temper tantrum. Exhibit A: What else should I be gearing up for? And also, any tips on fun games, toys, or activities, etc. that Bean would be into now? We’re feeling like we’ve used up our repertoire of late.

Grinning

I won a door prize today at the school book fair. And I never win things. Just another good thing that’s come my way recently, as though a corner has been finally turned…and then I realized, all the good stuff started to happen just after the democrats were voted in. A coincidence? I’ll take it.

Good vibes

My sister is here, from across the country, and she’s brought a good vibe with her. Aside from being a saint—making exquisite food, plying me with yummy wine, and bathing my kid, she’s also given me some space to unfurl a little. To talk, to feel safe, to unscramble. She’s perceptive and determined and encouraging, [...]