Grey and rainy here today. I have a short workday, yay!

Proud of myself, so I will share here: I've finished two books this week! Used to read all the time, and I love it, but I got out of the habit when I stopped my long Metro commutes back in the early aughts. So, I'm purposely doing a thing I like, for myself, that takes time, and finishing it. Gold star for me!

⭐⭐⭐

I've mostly been listening to one book and reading another. I try and keep them different genres. Right now I am listening to Gaiman's narration of his The Ocean at the End of the Lane. It is nice to hear the author's narration adding his emotion. I'm at the gym an hour a day so that is my listening time. I've not been proceeding as well on my Kindle book as I seem to only read a few pages before falling asleep.

Ooh, thank you for the stars!

I listen to audiobooks, too, yah. My mind wanders more with those than when I'm reading, so I often have to rewind. It's pretty funny. And I also put them on to fall asleep to and invariably fall asleep before the sleep timer, so... rewind. I'm good with them in the car, though.

I'm better at listening to podcasts. Something about following a conversation is easier for me or something? I don't know.

I read so much online between social media, news, and troubleshooting for work that I've gotten out of the habit of actually sitting back with a book that isn't a comic. I did pick up A Very Punchable Face from the library and start reading it this week, though, so maybe I can get back to old habits.

So I've invited the Sacred Circle and G&T Society over on this anniversary of Jacqueline's death. Emily, Hannah, Lisa and Marta will join Matilda and me.

Matilda has been very depressed lately, and she had asked if Emmett could come over too. He's not somebody who was doing the hospice caretaking so I didn't really think to have him here with us. But I asked him to come over at noon today before everybody else arrived to give some support to Matilda.

I dragged her out of bed at noon with bagel and coffee, and got him a coffee and BLT and she sat there at the kitchen table being very low energy and radiating sad. Finally I prompted her to talk about the bureaucratic academic bullshit her boyfriend is dealing with as he's starting City College (and a subject Emmett is all too acquainted with) and once she got to complaining with outrage her energy ramped up.

Next thing you know, he's got her laughing again, and he said, "We're going downstairs."

"Are you going to watch anime?"

"Yeah, but she's bringing her laptop so I'll also help her with her college application."

It is one of the verities: When Matilda is in pain, apply Emmett to the emotional wound.

That is lovely and sweet and hard. Love to all of you always, and especially today.

Much love to you and yours, David.

The hug Emmett gave me at JZ's gathering felt like it added three years to my life. He's a remarkable man. I am so very glad that he and Matilda have each other.

David, you have really added great humans to this world.