1. Good books. Just one way I’m keeping sane these days. One that is not in this pile because it’s on my Kindle is “Difficult Women,” also by Roxane Gay. It is SO good.

2. The cup my brother and nieces gave me. It’s perfect for soup. And, it’s covered with dogs!

3. Fun Home, the musical. I know I already mentioned it in my Something Good list this week, but y’all it was SO good, and this week I found the soundtrack on Amazon Prime so I’ve been listening to it constantly.

4. My three boys. I haven’t been able to go on walks this week, and have been working a lot, so I’m really missing them. Hopefully we can hang out a bit more this weekend.

Sam doesn’t really like getting his picture taken, so always turns his head

5. Sam’s new harness. We got Ringo one a while back (see above picture) and it’s worked so well for him, we got Sam one too.

6. Obi. Yesterday would have been his 15th birthday. He was our first. He taught us how to have a dog, and he taught us how to let go. I won’t ever stop missing him.

Bonus joy: getting good feedback (appreciation, kudos, acknowledgement) about the work I do for CSU, doing some work for CSU that I don’t need anybody to tell me is good because I just know, Voxing with Justine, my knee getting just a bit better, getting enough sleep, clementines, tomato gratin, garlic bread, tart cherry juice, working from home, how poor Sam hides from the washing machine but the spot he chooses to hide and where he feels the safest is under my writing desk, the way Ringo wants me to give him handfuls of water while I wait for it to warm up so I can take a shower and sometimes he stands next to me with one of his feet right on top of one of mine and I love him so much I want to stay right there with him forever and ever, laughing with Eric which is the one thing that can save me when nothing else can even reach me.

1. President Barack Obama. He wrote a thank you letter to America in which he said,

I’ve seen you, the American people, in all your decency, determination, good humor, and kindness. And in your daily acts of citizenship, I’ve seen our future unfolding.

All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into that work — the joyous work of citizenship. Not just when there’s an election, not just when our own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime.

2. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was good this week to be able to look again to his words and his work for encouragement and guidance.

MLK Celebration at CSU

3. All those who showed up to MLK marches and celebrations. All those who are protesting today and in the days to come. The water protectors still at Standing Rock. It is such a comfort and inspiration to be surrounded by so many others who believe that, “The time is always right to do what is right,” (MLK).

4. Three years with Ringo Blue. The other day I told him, as he was standing in the middle of the kitchen while I was cooking, that he either had to go back in the garage with his dad or lie down with Sam in the dining room, “but you can’t stay here.” He did that half sigh, half sneeze thing he does, turned and ran back out into the garage — because he’d understood exactly what I was telling him! It hasn’t always been easy, but it is always worth it.

5. A clean car. Seriously, it was so filthy. Seeing the difference might even inspire me to clean off my desk today.

Bonus joy: laughing with Eric while watching old episodes of Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home, spooning with Sam, my knee slowly getting better, a good week at work, tomato gratin, cherry juice, clementines, clean sheets, good books (Roxane Gay’s Difficult Women is SO good), comedians, poets, people willing to protest something that isn’t right, people willing to stand up to bullies, those who chose justice over comfort, good movies (saw “Moonlight” last week and it was SO good), TV so good you’ll rewatch it (hello, “Insecure”).