1. Morning walks. Eric’s foot is better so he came with us this week on all our walks. It’s strange because most of the places near the water we typically have to avoid this time of year have remained accessible, only a few mosquitoes and plenty of dragonflies doing their work eating them.  

2. Books, reading and writing them. I am still amazed how almost every book I read is a good one, hardly any stinkers. I can only think of one or two in the last year that were disappointing. And every time I sit down to work on writing one of my own, I’m amazed how much I’ve already written, how the process now is like piecing together a quilt. It’s also strange how now that I’m actively working on that, it matters less to me if I ever finish, because if I don’t it will only be because I ran out of time, not that I didn’t try.

3. Practice. I adore practicing with the women and sometimes dogs of Red Sage. I’m grateful that I’ve found practices that work for me and so lucky to have such good people to share them with.

4. Mom. We still send selfies to each other. As she gets more confused, I’m so grateful she hasn’t forgotten me and am eternally grateful for the good care and company she has where she’s at.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I love it here, with them.

Bonus joy: being able to start over or change my mind or cancel plans, naps, libraries and librarians, poets and poetry, my primary care doctor’s nurse practitioner, being able to opt out when they want to weigh me — and knowing that change in that office was at least partly because of me and a nutritionist who advocated for me and in so doing shifted the perspective of that practice, texting with Chris, the yellow mums Eric got for me, the whole house fan and a/c, other people’s dogs and kids and gardens, watching TV, listening to podcasts, new to me music, cooler temperatures, sharing reels and memes with Shellie and Kari and Carrie, ice cream, fresh corn, the value of doing absolutely nothing, opting out, fresh eggs, the ways Eric and I help each other, not being alone in “this,” photo magnets, afternoon storms, cooler temperatures, online shopping, grocery shopping, HRT, heating pads, vaccines, prescriptions, gummies, green tea, a handmade mug, stickers, birds in my feeder, butterflies and hummingbirds in my garden, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.

1. Morning walks. Eric came with us on our days this week and that was fun, even though he should probably still be resting his ankle more, as it’s not quite healed up yet. There were a few mornings that were really warm and muggy and I don’t love that. I am just not a true fan of summer: ticks, mosquitoes, heat, and being sweaty are not my friends. I do love how it means people are watering their grass in the early morning so Ringo gets to take breaks and play in their sprinklers.

2. Practice. I feel really lucky that the one yoga class I’m teaching right now is always full of some of my favorite people. This was something I learned pretty early on teaching yoga (and meditation and writing): I prefer working with a smaller group of regulars and am really not so interested in teaching “drop in” classes. The more I get to know my students, the better I’m able to guide and facilitate their practice, and the more fun I have. And, since teaching for a highly sensitive introvert is an extreme sport, whatever I can do to make myself more comfortable, all the better.

3. Summer season food. I may not like the bugs or the weather, but I adore the food. Ice cream (Tillamook has a limited edition salty caramel pretzel flavor right now that is so yummy), all the various produce like watermelon and corn (can’t wait for the Palisade peaches), and things like berry pie and turkey burger and baked beans or potato salad, which I made for dinner last night and always makes me think of my mom — who continues to do well, although is pretty confused sometimes.

4. Books. I have read so many good ones lately. I keep thinking I am just on a lucky streak but every single thing I read, I just love and enjoy so much, and have for like the past three years. In fact, once I finish this and the laundry and put clean sheets on the bed, I’m going to get back to some reading, which typically leads to a nap, so two of my most favorite things. 🙂

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. Seriously, other than the weather and bugs, this summer could last forever and I’d be so happy here with them.

Bonus joy: texting with Chris and Chloe’, stopping at Your Best Day Ever so Ringo can get some love from Theresa, clean sheets, listening to Dateline on satellite radio while I make dinner, listening to podcasts, streaming and on demand content, the hydromassage chair, sitting in the sauna, seeing Sally and Frank in aqua aerobics, being able to teach an hour of yoga without any real plan other than a couple of poses and trusting myself, the dreamy morning light in the living room when we close the front curtains to keep out the early heat, a/c and our whole house fan, gentle rainstorms, pie crust, libraries and librarians, poetry and poets, comedy, true crime, music, ladybugs, dragonflies, butterflies, hummingbirds, some spiders, other people’s dogs and kids and gardens, quilts, down pillows and blankets, the way when Ringo gets back from a walk he wants to get rowdy and howl for a bit, the blooms beginning on our golden rain trees, breakfast burritos, sharing reels and memes with Shellie and Carrie and Kari and how some shares by me are the same for all three and some are specifically for one of them, chocolate flowers and how excited Eric gets to smell them now that he knows what they are, how Jen’s part of the neighborhood has so many hummingbirds, canceled plans, leftovers, the way Eric will sit out in the backyard no matter how hot it is, naps, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.