April | 2015 | Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray)

1. Breakfast with good friends that I don’t see nearly enough. Friendships that last decades without needing to try, love that lasts just because it does, women who are smart and kind and funny.

2. Feast with Rachel Cole and a whole group of amazing women. I’m grateful it was, and I’m also grateful it’s over now.

3. My Kindle, and all the books on it that I can read whenever and wherever I want. Don’t get my wrong — I’m not giving up paper books, but it’s nice to have another option.

4. My tiny family, my three boys.

5. Friday. Thank goodness.

Bonus joy: making it home from our walk before it rained, homemade ketchup, hummus and sweet potato corn tortilla chips, the grocery store stocking my favorite granola bars again, yoga teacher training, sangha, the Daily Dharma Gathering, the Open Heart Project, Season 4 of Girls on Amazon, funny people, smart people, the memory of peach pie, sleep, a cold glass of water, a hot shower, soft dogs, clean sheets.

Prompt, “I live here.” Fort Collins, Colorado. I walk along the Poudre River with my dogs most mornings and am amazed that I can walk out my front door and be here in 20 minutes, am touched by how beautiful it is — always changing, always constant. Home.

Prompt. “my scent.” Patchouli oil by Sun’s Eye. It’s the only thing I’ve worn, besides scented lotion, for 20 years. Eric wears it too, which probably makes me love it even more.

Prompt: “a happy memory.” 21 years ago. It was a foggy day in the mountains — Evergreen, Colorado. The elk were bugling because it was their mating season. We both wore green. Our roommate came and took a few pictures with a disposable camera. We had our “reception” at a local bar, pizza and beer, just the three of us. I don’t remember exactly what we vowed, but I do know we couldn’t stop smiling, looking at each other. Best decision e v e r, both the eloping and choosing him.