1. Morning walks. It was pretty cold some mornings, so a few weren’t as early, and with lots of snow and ice still on the ground, we had to reroute from our usual spots. Eric was gone for a few days this week, and walking with Ringo is always such a comfort.

2. More snow. It’s almost all gone now, but it made me so happy while it was here.

3. Eric being back home. It was a sad, sad week. Eric’s mom had been in the hospital and his dad called on Monday to let him know there was nothing more they could do for her and they were talking about contacting hospice and sending her home. Eric flew out the next day and was able to spend the night with his mom at the hospital. The next morning, she died. She’d struggled with lung disease for years and this past one had been particularly difficult for her, so it wasn’t a complete surprise but that doesn’t necessarily make it easier. I’m so glad Eric made it there, and so glad he was able to help his dad with what came next. When you have a good one, no one loves you like your mom, no one gives you that exact same feeling of “home.” After 30+ years, she was my family too, and without her I wouldn’t have my little family, my home. It’s so weird, sad, and awful that I won’t ever get to see her again.

4. Practice. This was the first Friday morning in a while that everyone made it to our writing group. It was so nice to have everyone together again. I canceled my yoga class, as it was the morning after Patsy had died and I was too in my own feelings to hold space for other people.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. When you lose someone, it makes you even more grateful for who is still here.

Bonus joy: getting in the pool, sitting in the sauna with Eric, the hydromassage chair, zooming with Chloe’, texting with Chris and Stacey, canceled plans, honey mustard pretzels, clean sheets, listening to podcasts, laundry, a warm mug of green tea, my weighted blanket, libraries and librarians, poets and poetry, watching TV, down blankets and pillows, soft merino wool shirts, headlamps, other people’s dogs and kids, people who leave their Christmas lights up and on all winter, the lights in Old Town, pizza, Japanese gardens, sharing reels with Carrie and Kari and Shellie, that my experience with my dad ended up helping Eric when the time came for him to experience something similar, the people who show up, the people who stay, my Shakti mat, blankets, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.