1. Morning walks and fall color. I waited a bit one morning until it was closer to sunrise so we could see the turning leaves and rabbitbrush and I could get some pictures to share. This is my favorite time of year here. This year is a bit different because it was so dry, so there are some things that dried up before they had a chance to fully turn, but it’s still gorgeous. One morning Eric had one of those “wild kingdom” walks where it seemed like every time he turned around, there was another animal. Not pictured are the three beavers he saw swimming in the pond. It’s so weird how this particular generation of beavers doesn’t smack their tale to alert when they see us. Either no one taught them or they don’t think we represent any danger. Ringo has been around long enough to remember the beavers who did, and he seems to be a bit disappointed that these don’t.

2. Practice. There were only two who could write on Friday morning this week, but it’s a lovely and intimate practice with just two of us — especially after three years of writing together and knowing each other so well, trusting each other so completely, and a good chance to catch up, to linger a bit more than when all six of us are there and time is limited. Yoga with Red Sage where I managed to not do too much, to not wreck myself after spraining my SI joint a few weeks ago (after another situation where I did too much), and a lovely yoga class at the gym the day before to test if my body was up to teaching. I haven’t been meditating much recently, which seems to always happen after I’ve experienced a big loss, and as I’m telling you this now, I’m realizing it’s not that I avoid meditation during seasons of grief but rather every moment becomes an opportunity to be fully present and mindful with whatever is arising, which is practice of another flavor, another temperature, a different pace.

3. Mom and Dad’s “63rd” Anniversary. Yesterday was the third anniversary of Dad’s death. If he would have made it one more day, he and Mom would have reached their 60th anniversary together. This year, after a few years apart, wherever they are, they are spending their 63rd together.

4. Working on “The Book.” I have 20 years of journals, 15 years of blog posts (my 15 year “blogiversary” was on September 16th, but I missed it), and close to 1000 pages of typed work already written. Recently, after an understandable break due to life circumstances, I’ve returned to put in some real effort on turning some of what I’ve written into an actual book. Sometimes it is overwhelming, and other times I doubt myself, but there are moments where I feel content, even satisfied with what’s there, and confident that some day, some day, I’ll actually finish it.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. We often times get so caught up in looking and planning ahead, in what comes next or what we have planned, in our to-do list or our goals, that we forget this very moment, the laundry and the morning walk, is living — this IS life, right here and now. I’ve been trying to remember that as I move through my days, all the ones I have left, whatever that might mean.

Bonus joy: trying a new recipe, texting with Chris and Chloe’, getting the laundry done early, clean sheets, cooler temperatures, a new cooling blanket for Ringo’s crate, the Merlin app, getting in the pool, sitting in the sauna, working out at home, working out at the gym, making Eric and Chloe’ laugh with tales of the characters in my writing class, getting to finally see Kerri and Shawna, book club brunch, how well Ringo did at the vet, cinnamon and sugar toast, down blankets and pillows, napping on the couch with Ringo, listening to podcasts and music, watching TV, videos of people paying for other people’s groceries and gas, Sunday morning Pilates with Bea, sitting in the sun in the backyard, texting with neighbors old and new, finding more tiny brass crows Eric got and has been hiding for me in my office, the flowers Eric brought home for me from the grocery store, groceries, Autumn Crisp grapes, grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, naps, libraries, poetry, comedy, grapefruit juice, a hot cup of coffee and warm mug of tea, good books, hospice care, pay day, a washer and dryer in my house so I don’t have to cart my laundry to a 2nd location or hoard quarters anymore (although, now you can use a credit card to pay), cheeseburgers and corndogs, a warm shower, wool slippers, weekends because Eric is home more often, being retired, trash service, wi-fi, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.