Ten.One Thousand, Five Hundred & Ninety-Six

1. Nine hours.

2. I stick the coffee cake in the oven and then slice a leftover dinner roll in half, slather it with butter, and put it on the rack above the coffee cake.

3. Neither one of us is a fan of this season but we’ve agreed to bake something this week. Something that will bring delight. Pavlova for her, a tart for me.

4. I try to bring my thoughts to the present, to my breath. I try to unclench my jaw and focus. There is never a Friday where I don’t need this time with her.

5. I tell him about the dream. I hope it is one of my prophetic ones. It felt so real.

6. What will be different?

7. Two kids down, one to go.

8. She’s cleaning her room and listening to Christmas music. If nothing else, I will do it for her.

9. Thanksgiving 2.0.

10. “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”