First person I see at the pool is my friend Po––as if we are still away in Costa Rica together. Both there to swim laps. I am happy to be back to my routine, but, even so, I like to remember walking the wonderful tide pools of Playa Pelada in the early morning. I take Charlie into the woods, a short walk. I meet with my Ukrainian friends on Zoom for a catch-up. Today is a day of catching up on emails and the household. I have to spend the day away from home all day tomorrow. It’s a rainy day. When I open the door for Charlie this morning I feel the relief of the weather getting warmer here. Not a blast of ice cold, but a damp mildness of almost spring. A quiet dinner with my daughter and her boyfriend away; simple, by the fire, with Frank. Then my Tuesday night group, a rich experience, as always. I know I am glad for the mild weather. But I also find myself missing the interesting ice on the river and brook. Instead, the mallards make a lot of busy noise as I approach the unfrozen waters.