1. The central Oregon coast. I lived the first half of my life in Oregon, in the Willamette Valley. I spent time on the coast regularly from the time I was a baby. It is, so far, my favorite place on the planet, in particular the central part — Cape Perpetua, Yachats, Waldport, Driftwood Beach, Seal Rock, Ona Beach, Newport, Depoe Bay, and Lincoln City. When Obi, our first dog, was only 4.5 months old, Eric and I made our first trip from Colorado to Oregon to spend an extended amount of time in Waldport, and have tried to make it back every other year since then, always taking our dogs. Because of lingering COVID concerns and the fact we were just there last year, we held off on making definite plans for this summer. Yesterday we finally took a look at the rentals that were left and made a decision — for six days in early June, we’ll be staying in the same house we reserved and had to cancel in 2020. I’m so grateful we have the means, that we get to go back to somewhere we love so much, and that because it’s so close to our families, it makes visiting them that much easier. 

2. All the people who are trying to do better. And not just do better, but take time for rest and joy as well. All those big open slightly broken hearts committed to easing suffering in the world, to loving and caring for it the best they can.

3. Moving my body, resting my body. The particular balance that works to keep it happy and healthy is constantly shifting, but what a wonderful problem to have.

4. Good content. TV shows, videos, movies, music, podcasts, books. I will never get to all of it, but, again, what a wonderful problem to have.

5. My tiny family, tiny house, tiny life. Eric was on spring break this week, which might explain why I have so few pictures to share. I spent my time enjoying Eric and Ringo and totally forgot to document any of it. Not a single new picture of Ringo! I’ll include the one of him seeing the ocean for the first time — he took his first trip with us when he was six months old.

Bonus joy: sitting with Eric and Ringo in the sun in our backyard, aqua aerobics, the hydromassage chair, the sauna, small group training with Shelby, dinner with friends, making art with Calyx, texting with Mom and Chris, cooking good food, trying new recipes, gummy supplements, banana bread, a crisp gala apple, a warm shower, down and wool, making each other laugh, clean sheets, Wild Writing, seeing the first robin of spring, vaccines and masks, reading in bed while Eric and Ringo sleep.

1. Morning walks. I only have pictures from the first one of the week, when it first started snowing. For all the rest we had to wait until later in the day because it was anywhere from -1 up to about 6 degrees every morning, and that’s just too cold. So we waited until later and walked around our neighborhood instead of by the river. Ringo is feeling much better but we are still being careful, taking short slower walks.

2. Wild Writing with Laurie. It’s been at least 10 years now I’ve been writing with Laurie Wagner, and the Friday morning session I take part in has women in it I’ve also been writing with for a long time, including two of my best friends. Practicing long term with these women is magic, medicine. Doing this practice with the same small group of people over time is a sort of intimacy that’s hard to cultivate, but so easy with these gorgeous writers I love so much.

3. Flowers in the bathroom. It won’t be long now before things start to green up, warm up, bud and bloom. I am one of those weirdos that loves a mild winter like we have in Fort Collins, and fall is actually my favorite season, but the return of the green and my garden is something I look forward to every year, and these flowers Eric got me are reminding me that even though there’s still snow on the ground, spring is coming.

4. Trying new recipes. I am looking for new recipes that use lots of vegetables but are also super yummy, so various salads and such. Our fridge is stuffed full right now of all kinds of good things and I’ve got close to ten recipes I’ve yet to try and a few we already did. (And p.s., I sure wish companies like Driscoll’s and Kroger treated their employees better).

5. My tiny family, tiny house, tiny life. Eric is on Spring Break this week. Other than hanging out with him and him getting some much needed ease and rest, my favorite thing about him being on break is when he gets bored, he cleans. Ringo makes it easier to have just one dog right now by being so happy as an only, and as an older dog he’s also so much less work than when he was younger. He’s also becoming a super good nap buddy.

Bonus joy: swimming laps, sitting in the sauna, the hydromassage chair, aqua aerobics, small group training with Shelby, comedy shows, snow tires, ice scrapers, snow shovels, down and wool, gummies, strawberries, bread, a big glass of clean cold water, a warm shower, clean sheets, blankets, making art with Calyx, my therapist, reading, writing, meditating, texting with Mom and Chris and Chloe’, neighbors who recognize you and wave as you drive by, other people’s dogs, heat, electricity, the internet, healthcare professionals and facilities workers, masks and vaccines, being able to help, listening to music and podcasts, watching TV and movies, naps, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.