Wake up to the rooster. Hope he’s not waking my guest too early. My friend Martha spent the night after our poetry reading before returning to DC today. Once she woke I had the chance to take a lovely walk to the river and into Rocky Narrows, and since she happens to be quite familiar with the history of King Philip’s war with the colonists, we hiked up to King Philip’s Overlook before Frank drove her to the train. And while he was in Boston he went to Bova’s Bakery in the North End to get my birthday cake, my favorite coconut cake for family birthday dinner. Then, to my desk. A manuscript rejection today that I was thrilled to get because THE WINNER of the contest, cash prize, publication, was my dear poetry sister and friend! And in the afternoon I wrote a draft of a new poem for tomorrow. It’s very very fresh, but I got it done before picking up Wave. Frank made most of birthday dinner, and I set up a table to surprise Wave with pumpkin carving. Frank and I and Wave carved two beauties and set the jack o lanterns on the front step, lit up, to surprise his mother. Everyone home for dinner, and coconut cake, and appreciations of me. And I felt very fortunate, very cared for, very filled up with love and cake.