"After My First Breakup, My Father Writes His First Email"

1 August 2026: This poem, by Emily Jungmin Yoon, has been in my inbox since it arrived via the Poem-a-Day email on Tuesday. I keep coming back to it. 

These last three stanzas, man...

How easy it was to forget this man’s sensitivity,
his love for music, that he took saxophone lessons,

             coming home to an unlit apartment.
             A taciturn man, who sings alone.
             Who, when years later asked 

what instrument he likes listening to the most,
said, the human voice.

Banana bliss...

31 July 2026: Yesterday, Jo provided some much needed light through her essential Jo-ness. Today, it was BabyCat's turn, showing off her glorious fluff while passed out after playing with the old catnip-filled banana. 

Dramatic snoozing...

30 July 2026: Another day about which, boringly and depressingly, I feel compelled to say that so much is bad and sad and hard. Grateful for the light that shines through, including from this silly, dramatic bundle of chaos and love.

Hadestown

29 July 2026: Got a chance to see the filmed version of Hadestown just before it ended its theatrical run. Really enjoyed it and found myself thinking about all the Orpheus-themed works I've encountered over the years. Really is the summer of being grateful for your early training in mythology. 

Caught her mid-prance...

28 July 2026: This cat loves to prance. I always think she looks like a cat ballerina when she walks.

"This Isn't Final"

27 July 2026: 

"Don't give up on all that you love

Just because it's getting hard

And don't give up on the person you've become

Just because it's getting dark" --Lily Kershaw, "This Isn't Final"

Sunday snapshots...

26 July 2026: Some images from today that make me happy. 

(BabyCat lives here, too, and is always worth looking at--I just didn't catch her posing when I had my phone out.)

Home makes me happy.

First day in WV...

25 July 2026: Made it back to West Virginia in great time and she's getting settled in. Not happy, but does seem to like the open window. She'll stay in the office by herself for a least a couple of days, I think.

Lots of Big Thoughts on my drive. So much sadness. It's the anniversary of losing Ryan, too. 

But it's a profound thing to take an animal in and commit to loving it and caring for it. And it's striking how quickly they work their way right into your heart. 

Somewhere in New Jersey, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" came on. I thought to myself, "this little cat is just that--sunshine breaking through all this darkness. And 'that's while I'll always be around' for her." 

I don't like change and this will be a big adjustment for Jo and Veronica. But we'll make it work. 

Cat-napping...

24 July 2026: Tomorrow morning, this little one, my parents' cat Annie, will join me for the long ride to West Virginia. Praying that she adjusts well to life with Veronica and Jo (and me). She's a real sweet and just the perfect amount of weird.

We meet again...

23 July 2026: Stopped by my youthful angst stomping ground this morning on my walk. 

Slightly better vibes than the previous two stops.

Free knots...

22 July 2026: At the end of a very long day (a nine hour drive to NY--three hours longer that usual; a visit with my mom at the hospital for about four hours), I stopped at a local pizza joint in Rocky Point for a slice. Because I am me, I talked to the guys working there. I told them a bit about my long day--mostly because I was grateful they were still open. 

I told them how I always gotta get a slice when I am up here. They were so wonderful and kind...tried to give me a free second slice and when I said "no, thanks," they threw in some garlic knots instead.

Don't believe what people tell you about New Yorkers. They rule. 

2.5 hours of distraction...

21 July 2026: Another trip to NY tomorrow and there's so much on my mind and heart. Grateful for the 2.5+ hour distraction of the weekly trivia game. 

It's not just a distraction, of course: it's also the chance to be around nice people hanging out with people they like and having a good time. It's pretty cool. It's also "bring your grandchildren" season, which makes me smile. 

Twelve!

20 July 2026: Rough day in our family, but a bit of joy found its way in, as Evan turned 12. He and I had a nice phone chat (complete with my singing telegram). Then later, Tara sent me a video of him showing off the Lego model that I sent him and he put together. He's just a good kid and makes me smile.

Sunday morning tableau

19 July 2026: 

This lovely little tableau sort of stopped me in my tracks when I got out of the shower this morning. 

The open window.

The new curtains--that just delight me--blowing in the breeze.

Jo's beloved Gray Mousie.

Jo herself, waiting for me to throw it.

On the bedside table, the little plush Jesus that Jane got me months ago because when she sent a pic to the group chat, I said it was "cute." (It is.) She finally had a chance to give it to me last week.

Took a moment, breathed it in and thought,  "My home...and I am so lucky."

Vigil

18 July 2026: Not sure how I feel about George Saunders' Vigil, which I finished this afternoon, but these lines sure did speak to me at this moment in time:

"I could comfort.

I could.

Thank you, thank you, I whispered" (172).

Work Cited

Saunders, George. Vigil. Random House, 2026.