Eyes flutter open. Not quite ready to get out of bed. I hear something rustling against the window. No. Nothing can make that sound against the windows up here. It is an earthquake. No one wakes up.

Yeah. The braids will be back this weekend.

I send my round of follow-up emails from yesterday’s meeting. I am still just as confused as before.

Am I freaking out for no reason?

Prepared, but not.

Isn’t is all about self-compassion?

My text was confusing and still she knocks it out of the park. She sets down the kids pb & j, a container of dill pickles, as well as dill pickle chips. I chuckle. But really, my heart is warmed by the thoughtfulness.

I tell her that the downside of back-to-back-to-back meetings is that my brain feels more scattered. It’s hard to regroup and recalibrate.

The week was short but has felt so long.

I watch the game on the app while listening to the football coach talks about the program. Doubles, triples. They will lose - by a lot.

Where is the place for an appropriate release?