I sit on the floor of the closet and turn on the app. 5 minutes of deep breathing.

I really do feel more centered.

Her text says that there’s a small fire in Livermore too and that now parts of Alameda county are also on the list for power shut-off. I check the map for Brentwood. We are still okay, but just barely.

I check the time on Google maps and see that there’s space in the morning for me to do the drop off. I haven’t done it in such a long time. It’s one of those mom things that I didn’t think I’d miss.

In fact, there are a lot of stay-at-home mom things that I was looking forward to escaping by having a traditional job. Turns out, I didn’t hate it all as much as I thought I did.

I take my time walking from the car to the door of the building. I notice the grasses and the flowers and the perfect patina of the brass lights that flank the double doors. Beauty hunting.

While IT fixes my computer, I sort and fold and rearrange. I take the shirts to the cottage to store in the drawers. That lone calla lily. Delight.

The loud chirping of smoke detectors that need new batteries.

He brings me a glass of sparkling while I read in the hammock. There is time for this.

The birds of paradise have bloomed again.