1. Morning walks, which this week were closer to afternoon walks because it was so cold in the mornings. Luckily at eleven years old, Ringo doesn’t mind from time to time having a lazy morning, his lunch, and THEN a walk. We got more snow, finally have some in the foothills, and are getting a bit more today.

And even though it’s a sign of climate change, of the environmental crisis, I can’t help loving all the videos people have posted of dogs in the south seeing snow for the first time.

2. Practicing together. There weren’t any dogs, but Teri got to come to yoga at Red Sage this week, so there was lots of joking and laughing. I adore not having to be “serious” and that group brings me so much joy. It was only three of us in our Friday morning writing sangha, but Chloe’ brought poems and Cynthia brought the snark and it was exactly what I needed. And even though I sit by myself when I meditate in the morning, I know that I am not alone. 

3. My mom’s caretaking team. The healthcare professionals available to her where she lives mostly stink (if you can even get an appointment), but her direct caregivers (Chris, Jessamy, Shannon, and Kylie) are SO good. I am so grateful to them. However, I’m thinking we probably shouldn’t let Chris dress her anymore, since for her Dr. appointment this week, she looked like a toddler who picked out their own outfit and I think her slippers were on the wrong feet. 🙂

4. Books and authors, libraries and librarians. These have been central, essential, and constant in my life for the full 57 years, and every year, they become even more important and precious to me. 

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I love it here so much.

Bonus joy: Ringo in his purple coat, the crunch of snow under our feet, down pillows and blankets and coats, snowtires, the pool, the hydromassage chair, sitting in the sauna, texting with Chloe’ and Chris, lip balm, a mug of hot green tea, other people’s dogs and kids, sharing reels and memes with Shellie and Kari and Carrie, mashed potatoes, raspberries, gummies, purple, training with Shelby and the gang, popcorn, listening to podcasts, drive through pharmacy pick ups, the twinkle lights in Old Town, poetry and poets, my Shakti mat, naps, a warm shower, a big glass of clean cold water, online bill pay, Libby, eBooks, water heaters and furnaces, baking, movies, music, Eric at home napping on the couch, reading on my Kindle in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.

1. SNOW!!! It makes me so happy. It wasn’t much, but I’ll take it.

2. Morning walks, and more importantly that when I can’t do it, Eric can. We both got “the crud” (not COVID or the flu or any of the fancy ones, just plain old crud) around New Year’s, him a few days before it got me, so I spent my whole week canceling plans and staying home on the couch. We’ve had some pretty cold mornings, so a few times even Eric couldn’t take Ringo so sometime after lunch, he and I would do a walk around the block and Eric walks him a bit more when he gets home from work. 

3. Being able to cancel plans and spend the week resting. Every day, I wake up thinking I’ll be better and then spend the day on the couch again — first it was a really sore throat and fatigue, then it was sneezing and fatigue, and now I’ve moved into the “my nose won’t stop running but I’m also stuffed up and my head feels like it’s in a vice” and fatigue stage. Hopefully next week will be better.

4. Wild Writing. I canceled everything else this week, but I was able to show up and write this morning. I love that practice so much, and I can’t wait until I’m through this particularly unpredictable moment in my life so I can start scheduling more things and sharing it more with other people.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. It’s the best place to rest and recover when I’m not feeling my best. And yes, my Christmas tree is still up.

Bonus joy: grocery pick up (that saved me this week because I could NOT face going inside and doing the shopping myself, did NOT have the energy), getting the laundry done (even though it took close to four days), a hot mug of green tea, my weighted blanket, my Shakti mat, tissues infused with lotion, lip balm, lemon mint throat lozenges, tortilla chips, a warm shower (finally), down pillows and blankets, an 11 year old dog who isn’t too concerned if he doesn’t get a walk first thing after breakfast, blackout curtains, a white noise machine, twinkle lights, a working furnace, my aunt Cindy getting her health back, my uncle Bruce hopefully in a place now that will take good care of him so my aunt Monica can recover her health and not have to worry about him, all the caretakers that help my mom (especially since I can’t be there to do it myself), good books, my new Kindle, libraries and librarians, poetry and poets, comedy, true crime, listening to podcasts, Ringo’s continued good belly health, the chance to start over (a million times, if necessary), getting to write with Chloe’ and Cynthia, trading memes and reels with Kari and Shellie and Carrie, pistachios, hard boiled eggs, berries, prescription glasses, first responders and other essential workers — people who run towards the danger (“There are two kinds of people in the world – first those who run away from danger, then there are those who run towards danger, to see if someone needs help.” ~Abhijit Naskar), reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.