1. Morning walks. The color is starting to fade, the leaves fall, and it is still so gorgeous.

2. Our neighborhood. We’ve been here for 25 years now, in this neighborhood, on this street, in this house. All my dogs have lived here. We’ve had some really good neighbors and only a few duds. We are close to everything we want to be but also at the very edge of town so it’s quieter and slower here. There are so many good places to walk, miles of trail that follows the river, multiple natural areas and ponds, and quite a few city parks. I’m a bit sad this week because the elementary school down the block is closing next year. The official reason for the closure, and that of a few other schools in this district, is “declining enrollment.” The building will remain and be leased, possibly to another school or the city. If there are no kids, I will really miss that — seeing them on their way to and from school, the joyful sound of them outside at recess or the way they want to come say “hi” to my dogs. I am confused how HARD so many of our neighbors go for Halloween but then they don’t put up Christmas decorations, not even lights.

3. Other people’s kids. All the pictures and stories about Halloween activities this week have been especially fun.

4. Practice. I taught a fun Thriller themed sequence at yoga. Only one person was able to be there for it, so she and I are practicing it this week and next class, we are going to surprise the other people with a “flash mob” version of it and then teach it to them. Friday morning writing was a good time as usual. To be honest, I have not been formally meditating — as often happens for me in a season of grief, I think because allowing myself to cry ends up becoming the practice.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I’ll be glad when this particular semester is over, when Eric goes on his fall and then winter break, and hopefully next semester he won’t be quite as busy. I’m so lucky I’ve got Ringo to keep me company when Eric isn’t here.

Bonus joy: getting to catch up with Chloe’, getting a massage with Dana and getting to catch up with her, aqua aerobics, sitting in the sauna, yoga, finding more tiny brass crows Eric hid for me, flowers from the grocery store, giving myself permission to stop reading a book I’m not enjoying, binge watching a TV show, libraries, poetry, comedy, down blankets and pillows, wool slippers and bed toppers, getting my teeth cleaned, Sunday morning Pilates, taking myself out to lunch, getting the laundry done, pay day, napping with Ringo on the couch, texting with Chris, prescription refills, being retired, other people’s animals, groceries, coupons, wireless internet, my new laptop, a new journal, stickers, cheese, fig spread, apples, the technology of photography so I still have lots of pictures of my other three dogs, watercolor, music, seeing that mama deer with her two babies, headlamps, gummies, a big glass of cold clean water, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.