This is our seventh summer in Madison. It’s hard to believe but when I think back on our early years—the pandemic, elementary school, not knowing where to find the best bread in town or where to go for a celebratory dinner—it seems like a lifetime ago.

in time of daffodils(who know

the goal of living is to grow)

forgetting why, remember how

My mom has cognitive decline. She’s also widowed and lives alone. Every day, I call her between 5 and 6 to check in, even if I’ve seen her or talked to her that day.

When I lived in the city, I’d often go to the library to work. Unlike at a café, where I would inevitably eat more pastries than necessary and be distracted by neighbors’ conversations, I could sit in one place for hours at the library.

What are you seeking in the new year?

For me, it will be pleasure.

The most fun I’ve had in the past couple of months? Placing third at a local puzzle tournament.

I mean…

Almost five years of small-town living, after spending my adulthood solely in the city, and I’m still figuring out who and what I am in my life now.

bare feet

iced drinks

outdoor concerts and evening picnics