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. 

1. Morning walks. One thing I love about living here is how dry and sunny it is, after living the first part of my life in the damp and gray of the Pacific Northwest. And yet, this particular winter season, we’ve had way too much “good weather” and I am aching for snow. There’s a particular stillness and quiet that only happens when it snows and I’m longing for some of that.

2. This weird week, this liminal space of no time between Christmas and New Year’s. 

3. Christmas day. It was just the three of us at home, opening presents, cooking and eating good food, and resting — and it was wonderful. My small family in Oregon was gathered at Mom’s house, the girls doing all the cooking again, the kids playing with their presents, and my brother sending me texts and pictures so it felt almost like I was there with them.

At our house, Ringo was too tired from his morning walk to get involved in opening presents, and once the sun went down, so did Eric — literally fell asleep on the floor, lying on the Shakti mat he bought me. The funniest present Eric got me requires some back story: if I buy snacks, in particular candy, I have to hide it from Eric otherwise it will be gone. “Sharing” doesn’t really work, because I like to savor things, have just a little at a time and make it last, when if it exists he has to consume it all immediately. Over the years, I’ve had to find multiple hiding places because he eventually finds the current stash, so it slows him down but doesn’t stop him. Because of this, this Christmas he bought me a metal lockbox where I can hide my candy and he can’t get to it. I laughed so hard when I opened it. I’m not entirely convinced he didn’t have a copy of the key made before he gave it to me, however. 🙂

4. Practice. My meditation shrine is starting to look like Noah’s ark with all my tiny brass animals. Not sure why I love them so much, besides the fact they are tiny and animals.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. I love being here, with them. I suspect that will come as no surprise to you, kind and gentle reader. P.S. I take an absurd amount of pictures of Ringo while he’s sleeping, but he’s just SO cute!

Bonus joy: pecan tarts, comedy, true crime, stickers, the family group text, clean laundry, pay day, how good it feels when someone likes what you got them for Christmas or their birthday, nuts, leftovers, soft bread, roasted vegetables, getting in the pool, sitting in the sauna with Eric, texting with Chloe’, sharing memes and reels with Shellie and Kari and Carrie, listening to podcasts, a new Kindle, libraries and librarians, poetry and poets, watching TV, eating candy, white cheddar popcorn, massage, blackout shades, my weighted blankets, Christmas cards, twinkle lights, down blankets and pillows, wool socks and sweaters and shirts, other people’s kids and dogs and Christmas decorations, having a tree with just lights, not losing hope or giving up, naps, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.