Ten.Five Hundred & Sixteen
1. Shouldn’t be too surprised he’s up this early.
2. John Mayer. Live acoustic version of “Why Georgia.” I wish it was “3x5” because the clouds do indeed look like mountains.
3. She apologizes for yawning. “It’s okay. It’s early,” I say. “It’s only early when you’re trying to do too much,” she laughs.
4. We keep telling each other that everyone seems so nice here. I don’t think we’re imagining it.
5. Cleaning day. The first one with all the kids gone. Once again, the ordinary acts of being root me.
6. Feist. Beyoncé. KT Tunstall.
7. Everything is so saturated. I’m okay with this kind of winter.
8. Duolingo.
9. But if I were to describe the colors of the leaves, I don’t think I could find the words that would communicate their intensity.
10. So much beauty everywhere.
Ten.Five Hundred & Sixteen
1. Shouldn’t be too surprised he’s up this early.
2. John Mayer. Live acoustic version of “Why Georgia.” I wish it was “3x5” because the clouds do indeed look like mountains.
3. She apologizes for yawning. “It’s okay. It’s early,” I say. “It’s only early when you’re trying to do too much,” she laughs.
4. We keep telling each other that everyone seems so nice here. I don’t think we’re imagining it.
5. Cleaning day. The first one with all the kids gone. Once again, the ordinary acts of being root me.
6. Feist. Beyoncé. KT Tunstall.
7. Everything is so saturated. I’m okay with this kind of winter.
8. Duolingo.
9. But if I were to describe the colors of the leaves, I don’t think I could find the words that would communicate their intensity.
10. So much beauty everywhere.
Ten.Five Hundred & Six
1. I can feel his small hands touching the edge of the bed. It’s almost time to wake up anyway.
2. I mean to make coffee first but my eye keeps catching all the things left out the night before: glasses and bowls and napkins and empty wine bottles.
3. Write the to-do list. I need to start waking up before everyone else again.
4. She asks to come with me on my errands. We buy some pillows and some flowers and persimmons.
5. She complains that the mask is uncomfortable. It is.
6. Bucket full of hot water and Murphy’s. I wash down the cabinets and all the doors.
7. “Transform yourself to transform the world.” - Emergent Strategy
8. Like Christopher Robin I’m a little lost.
9. I mean, I am here. But what happens next?
10. “I always get to where I’m going by walking away from where I’ve been.” - Pooh
Ten.Four Hundred & Ninety-Seven
1. 4:30.
2. Stomach growling. Where for breakfast?
3. How much longer until our hunger and sleep cycles adjust? I don’t remember having this problem during my other visits.
4. The haze is making me think we ought to stay home today.
5. Tacos and Meadowlark Dairy.
6. The five of us in one room. How many more days to go? At least 4 more.
7. Hotel laundry room.
8. First dinner with the new boss. He reminds me so much of my father that it both warms and saddens me.
9. When will I feel ready?
10. I need a week’s worth of sleep.
Ten.Four Hundred & Ninety-Six
1. 4 am. Getting better.
2. He’s hungry. I don’t blame him. Our days have been so odd. Rhythms are non-existent.
3. Hotel breakfast. The three of them in a both while he and I shop for washers and dryers and try to plan the day.
4. The kids want to play in an empty house. I want to be out of doors.
5. The morning light looks like afternoon light because of the smoke from the fires.
6. Can’t wait for the next open spot. I suggest we head to Muir Beach instead. They don’t want to go but we insist that they’ll love it.
7. Should have had them take off their socks and shoes. They are caked in wet sand. I actually don’t care.
8. “I’ve never felt so free.” - Dean
9. We haven’t yet pulled away and they already want to know when we can come back.
10. I have a lot to learn. But that’s why we’re here.
10.1 “You’re right. In-n-Out is better than Portillo’s.” - Dash
10.2 The sky is more hazy than when we left this morning. I sign up for text alerts.
10.3 I keep looking at the listing showing “sold.” It still doesn’t feel real. Maybe once the stuff is here and we’re back in our own car it will set in that this is not just a visit.