#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

The forecast is 100 percent rain for this birthday party day. But it has not started yet. Sky thick with clouds, but warmish. Saturday is my day off from a swim. It’s a hike day, and I have two partners––Wave and Charlie. And it’s a long and eventful hike, climbing the steep hill we call “the cliff.” Hiking to King Philip’s Overlook to see the foliage, the field, the river below us. We pretend we are cowboys on a camping trip, cooking over our open fire. We are surrounded by gold and burgundy leaves. I answer countless why’s. There is so much to wonder about. Meanwhile, at home, the house is being transformed into a party place. Indeed, after we are home, the heavy rain starts falling. There will be no outdoor part of this party in the garden after all. We’ve anticipated that and we use every available room for the fifteen kids and also their parents in raincoats and umbrellas and boots. We have pumpkin decorating and a hunt for candy in kid’s pool filled with a bale of hay. And my daughters and I perform Jack and the Beanstock to the captivated kids. There are cupcakes and games of duck duck goose and simon says. And presents. And lots of happiness. We clean up and collapse with pizza to talk over the fun day. The only one who seems not to be completely exhausted is, guess who? He wants to do yoga before bed! I can’t say no. It’s the best way to end a perfectly wonderful rain day.