The summer so far: Hot (hot in the literal sense rather than in a swipy-sexy-time way that the kids are using it currently). Quiet (Dennis has been away for over a month; also reason hot is referencing temps rather than temperament). Starting with former, while it’s not weird for weather to do what it is currently in places like SoCal and NYC, the fact that all the way up the left coast—Oregon, Washington, Canada—they are roasting like marshmallows over a campfire is disturbing, yet not surprising given how the planet has been treated in the past many hundred years. Yet, still, as the reality unfolds and the headlines prevail, we scramble. My friend in Canada (hi, Judy) spent the day at the beach with her husband and pooch, Tessa. She sent the most adorable photo of Tessa discovering water and apparently deciding to never leave. Because she is smart. Dennis is working at his brother’s place up in Washington where AC isn’t a thing, because why would it be? Degrees in the hundreds are not. actually. ever. expected. And yet… heard an interview a couple of weeks ago with Katherine Hayhoe, an atmospheric scientist, talking about how humans are prone (er, likely) to ignore warnings, talk of, etc. about things that are dire until they’re affecting them directly. Actually in their face, in their space, in this case melting, flooding, tornado-ing, burning, droughting, and all other climate change byproducts. This magical thinking is deadly. How do we deal and adapt? Not being any sort of inventor, scientist, climate biologist or any other sort of big-funded thinker, I do not have the tools to help with the larger picture. But on a more meta level, I try. I’m happy as a vegetarian and am working on my dairy consumption (I love you still, cheese.) given their effects on our old planet. I’ve lived in Cali now for a year-and-a-half and haven’t bought a car because we’re in a place where I can ride my bike, walk, and the bus system here is fantastic and why don’t more people use it???? I’ve also set up a very great car-share with my dad. (Thanks, dad.) So here we sit. I, literally, in the inflatable pool with redwood surround in our backyard. As you can see in the pic above, I constructed a kind of de-facto soaking workspace. (Dennis sent me an oh-mi-gawd-strike-forehead emoji on the risky computer-near-water situation. I have been known to suffer for my hairbrained schemes. In this case, all has turned out fine.) And whatever else I can do, I think about while trying not to get too overwhelmingly freaked about where we sit right now in the crisis of it.

About that quiet part of my summer: With Dennis working out of town, I’ve gotten in a very nomadic groove. It’s one that suits my writing schedule. It’s also reminded me that I do enjoy my solo time, whether that’s a byproduct of being an only child….maybe? This is a rhythm Dennis and I have done before. In NYC, he would be off doing a show or working on a job and I’d have the apartment to myself, but I had a busier social scene there too. Between moving and COVID lockdown, that part of my world has shifted a bit. Being a person who embraces her introversion, I’m actually fine with that. But—an important but—there’s such a thing as having both the person you love around and the ability to write and have solo time. And over the ten-plus years with Dennis, I’ve worked to figure out how to claim the time I need and enjoy the time we spend. So the question becomes balance. The proclivity I have to please before I claim what I’m craving is always a balance in progress. I work on it.

Between, hanging with my dad, the wonders of FaceTime, and bonus visits from my friend who drives in from the beach (Hi, Mary) to do early morning strolls, I’m finding out-of-my-own-head chat time. I also do talk to Gladdy&GrayBoy, the cats who show up in the backyard. One-way conversations, but still… Here’s the thing: This Wednesday I’m flying to Seattle so Dennis and I can drive down the coast for ten+ days. I’M VERY EXCITED. So very very excited. Note: there won’t be anything posted in this blog-space next weekend, but the following I’ll be right back in the scene. Please feel free to talk amongst yourselves. Stay safe, find the cool, and I’ll see you in two…

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