It’s been a year since I’ve been here.

A lot has happened.

I bought a lot of books I still haven’t read.

I wrote articles here and here.

The kids grew up and said cute things. Gabriel calls himself “Geo” and Jane told me I could start a TicTok account because, and I’m quoting directly here, “It’s been around for a long time, so anyone can use it now. Even old people.”

I found a couple of gray hairs.

Birds roosted on the patio lights by the front porch and created a Jackson Pollok pattern on the sidewalk that I don’t feel right about cleaning.

I love owning this house even if it does have a flighty HVAC system.

Jane asked if I was around for the Spanish Flu Pandemic, and if so, what was it like.

She also asked me if I knew that Abraham Lincoln was born in February too (my birth month) and then asked if it was the same year I was born.

Before anyone thinks I’m irritated with my soul-burning 10 year old, I’m not. She says things with a pure honesty that I love, and also in a direct way that hearkens back to the take-no-prisoners spirit of Sophia Patrillo. God knows she’ll need that in life.

And it is my birthday month. I’m solidly in my 40’s now. My newest hobby is trying perfume samples and then yelling “this stink has become one with my skin.” I am older. I am grateful. I’ve discovered the joys of bourbon in tea. I’m still alive.

#winning