Ten.One Thousand & Ninety-Seven

1. No alarm. Just the light filling the room.

2. Cobbler or Raisin Bran?

3. Coffee is weak. Not enough grounds or too much water. You would think that after 3 months of French press we would have figured it out by now. But every coffee is different.

4. We decide on Sebastopol. Will it be worth the drive? Yes. Yes, it will.

5. I can’t wait to meet her in real life. I might consider breaking all of my quarantine rules to hug her.

6. Is it silly that the shape of the hills makes me want to cry? No, it’s not silly at all.

7. Coconut, walnut, raisin tart. Worth $6. I’d pay &10 if it was hot and came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Everyone here is respectful with the masks.

8. On the corner, 7 protesters with signs: “Black Lives Matter,” “Defund the Police.” We honk our horn and they, and we, raise our fists.

9. The entire wall of windows is covered in BLM signs.

10. A statue: a black hand holding a red heart, at the bottom: “Black Lives Matter.” This little town is surprising me.

11. Which is to say that too much of energy is spent trying to determine where I might feel safe. These visible displays of support are important. I can relax. I just hope they really mean it.

12. Pax Piquette.

13. Still one of my favorite dinners.

14. Still tired, but more aware of what I should be doing in the world.