Not At All

I've been off the grid since the 4th of July, 
sleeping in the tent [with Claire] up on the mountain,
in the field near Dad's little house. 










brothers
daughters
grandaughter
aunts
uncles
cousins
children of cousins, 
and a whole lot of dogs 
came from far and wide:


Florida
Kansas
Vermont
Connecticut
New York
Massachusetts
New Jersey
Virginia


to swim in the pond, 
pick and eat blueberries by the handful

drink a few beers, 
talk
tell stories 
and celebrate Dad's 86th birthday...


Happy Birthday, Sunny!


No, I don't feel old, Dad said. 
Not at all. 
I feel grateful.

And though I'm full up of stories about 


family
mice
storms
tent-dwelling


to name a few

for now, 
for this Monday morning, 
I'm taking a page from Dad's play book,


the play-master himself.


I feel grateful...

for this being alive ~ for just being here.


How about you? What are you grateful for today?


drop me a note. i'll write back.


xo b