OCT’ 20

17

 I am basking in the tiniest sliver of calm before the "storm" of holiday activities takes over our household. Davis made breakfast for us and, now, has taken Willa out for a bike ride. Willa rides in the street now- how is my girl so GROWN?

The winds are supposed to pick up this afternoon and bring with it more smoke from the wildfires in CO. Yesterday afternoon, it was impossible to be outside. All of our windows had to be shut. Ash drifted down from the sky like teeny tiny feathers. The sun was blotted out by the smoke. I am told the AQI downtown where we live was 250. Up where my in-laws live, it was 400. Worse than San Francisco/Seattle/Portland. It was hard to keep dark thoughts at bay.

I am looking at my diary and see Halloween looming up ahead. My pumpkins are turning more orange with each passing sunny day. The vines all around them have died back. I am hoping that they will be perfectly orange by Halloween. I organized a Halloween scavenger hunt on my block for the kids. The hunt will start at the "haunted" tree house in our yard and, after roaming the neighboring yards following clues to activities, they'll end up at our little pumpkin patch where a "jack" pot awaits them. I wrote the clues this past week. Turns out, I am NOT a poet. Rhyming, not my jam. Next up, I've got to work on our family costume. Last year, we all got dressed up as different elements from "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." Willa was the mouse in coveralls, Davis was the boy in the orange shirt, and I was a cookie. This year, Willa has chosen to be Madeline from the eponymous book series. Davis will be Miss Clavel and I will be the house covered in vines. She is pretty excited.

Willa's godparents/guardians left around midday yesterday. I already miss them but going back to being a trio has been something of a relief. The introvert in me was desperate for some time alone. As I am right now. That said, what a gift the last few weeks have been. Priceless to observe how Willa fell back in love with her godparents and they with her. Renewed the bonds that will tether them together for a lifetime. It was also wonderful for us adults. We watched "Hamilton" (which, by the way, if you haven't, DO IT), played Hanabi- a collaborative card game, and just hung out. Anyways, I'm busy cleaning out the apartment now, laundering, vacuuming, cleaning out the fridge and freezer. Exhaling.

Last night, Davis and I felt like we really needed a diversion. So, we watched "Haute Cuisine" a French film about François Mitterand's personal cook. It was just delightful. Highly recommend it. Food. I love it for so many more reasons than for how good it tastes.