1. Morning walks. The smoke has mostly cleared from the fires. I have to wear a headlamp for the first part of our walk because we definitely are tipping towards fall, my favorite season. On Friday morning, we only got to walk around the block because it was still raining. One morning, there was an owl in my favorite dead tree. I thought I was going to be able to get a bunch of good pictures, but then Ringo noticed it and started barking so it flew away.

2. Acupuncture. My practitioner is doing lots of work clearing all the things that are keeping me stuck, heavy, and tired — trapped trauma, shock, grief, and every burden that isn’t mine to carry. Normally I’m pretty skeptical about “alternative” therapies, but this time I am choosing to trust it and that shift in perspective is probably the primary reason it feels like it’s working. While I’m at it, I’m also SO grateful for my masseuse, who I get to see later today.

3. Good food. I have been trying really hard to make sure I have good food to eat, to feed myself, to nourish all the parts of me.

4. A few cooler days. After quite a few 90+ days (weeks), we got rain and a few 60ish degree days. It was such a nice break and with the fires a very necessary one.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. There is never anywhere else I’d rather be.

Bonus joy: peaches, plantain chips and dip (yes, still…), peanut butter, texting with Chris, going on a date with Eric to see Danielle Ate The Sandwich, cancelled plans, a warm shower, a big glass of clean cold water, gummies, listening to podcasts, cooking and baking and eating, grocery shopping, reusable bags (and remembering to bring them), Chloe’ making it back and plans to see her and Barb in a few days, flowers from Eric, practicing meditation and writing in the morning, doing yoga with Red Sage, naps, making each other laugh, clean laundry, baked ziti, floss, prescription glasses, new to me music, Teddy Swims, the Olympics, Snoop Dog, people who earnestly are trying to do better, love that asks for nothing in return, the way Ringo’s head smells when he’s been outside in the sun, dried raspberries, libraries and librarians, poetry and poets, comedy, storytellers, hugs, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.