. . . Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?

When you turn around, starting here, lift this
new glimpse that you found; carry into evening
all that you want from this day. . .

~ Excerpt from, “You Reading This, Be Ready,” by William Stafford

Mild winter weather is here. Moist and cool, not terribly cold, but quite gray, and will stay that way, it seems, through the weekend. I walk in the woods by the river and brook, and across the trestle bridge, and there is no ice today, not really. I am grateful for the warmer days and lack of snow. The ice will come again soon, I am sure. In the afternoon, late afternoon, Frank and I visit my youngest and her boyfriend in Arlington. We walk from their apartment to the bakery, get coffee and tea, then walk to Spy Pond and along the trail for a bit, well past dusk into dark. We get to have this hour or so with them. It would have been a five days, if we had traveled with them. So, this time today means a lot. Frank, after we left, who had been a bit reluctant to go, because he is tired, up early, and juggling a lot, thanked me, and was quite glad we went. Each day this week, more people I know have Covid. Today, our household is healthy, and I am grateful, and wishing everyone who is unwell a swift recovery.