1. Morning walks. I probably don’t need to add any “why” here, because the pictures are self-explanatory — amazing, beautiful, quiet, good company, and THE SKY! This week, we also saw “Big Red,” (that’s not his actual name, at least I don’t think so and I can’t get close enough to read his tag), one of my favorite neighborhood dogs and somehow Ringo likes him too. He’s a big cattle dog/pit mix (or something like that) with splashes of red and other tiny freckles of the same where he’s white, with a big blocky head, wrinkly face, and such a sweet temperament. Ringo can be a grumpy old man, especially with dogs that are bigger than him and those he considers too rowdy, but for some reason, he likes Big Red, and it makes me happy to see it.

2. Practice. Time to be quiet and still and at ease. To contemplate and comfort and confront.

These few words are enough
If not these words, this breath
If not this breath, this sitting here

This opening to the life
We have refused
Again and again
Until now
Until now

~David Whyte

3. Snow. It was only a few inches, coming down in those big fat fluffy flakes, and we really need so much more but I’ll take it.

4. Breakfast burritos. There are certain foods that are so complete and perfect and good. They make me happy, make me feel satisfied and nourished. Bread and potatoes and rice, all the things that health and fitness influencers would have us reject altogether, are so versatile and delicious. I’ll add to the list of complete, perfect, and good food: tacos and pizza. Oatmeal cookies are pretty amazing too.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I’m leaving for a short trip to Oregon next week. My brother’s birthday is coming up and when I thought about what to get him, I realized that giving him a short break from his role as our mom’s primary caretaker is the best “present” I could offer. AND, that means I’ll be there and my whole life will be here and I am going to miss it and them. Eric and I have spent more time apart this past six months than we have almost the entire 30 years that came before. I don’t love it. Luckily, the next trip I have planned to Oregon after that includes Eric and Ringo, and the beach.

Bonus joy: a warm shower, physical therapy, massage, getting in the pool, sitting in the sauna, the hydromassage chair, making each other laugh, friends that can hold space for both grief and joy, writing with my Friday morning sangha, a soft oversized hoodie, wool socks, down blankets and pillows and jackets, gummies, naps, watching TV, listening to podcasts, good books, being able to check out library books on my Kindle, libraries and librarians, poetry and poets, fingernail clippers, dental floss, watercolors, citrus, my dad’s grade school pictures, practicing yoga at Red Sage, being friends with a local surgeon so you can get a good recommendation when you need one, being able to schedule my hernia repair surgery while Eric is on Spring Break and between Oregon trips, those realizations I have just as I’m drifting off to sleep, hugs in the kitchen, laundry, groceries, that corner of the couch, twinkle lights, pictures from places where flowers are already blooming, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.