She's home...

5 August 2026: For the first time since early June, my mom is home in her own bed tonight. So grateful.

Not Quite a Ghost, again...

4 August 2026: I am trying to get as much day-to-day course prep done ahead of time as possible, which is why I have spent the past couple of days rereading Not Quite a Ghost. I am teaching it for the first time, including it in the Young Adult Lit class. It's been fun working through it again through the lens of teaching and I find myself looking forward to diving into it with my students in October.

Comfort

3 August 2026:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14: 1-3. 

My favorite superhero...

2 August 2026: Spider-Man remains my favorite superhero and I really enjoyed Brand New Day today. A kid from New York who wants to the right thing...

It was also good to get out for a bit after a couple of mostly solo and quiet days here. I just wasn't up for "cheap" society, to paraphrase Walden a bit. I even skipped a fundraiser last night that I had already bought a ticket for...but I just couldn't do it. 

Too sad. Too in my own head. 

But also okay. 

And (I think?) maybe more okay because I didn't go. I gave myself permission to stay home and just be. 

Then Spider-Man was a great way to get out for a bit. 

One day at a time...

"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.