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The day has gone well so far... nothing too crazy. I worked from my home office to avoid those awkward moments at work where the coworkers fumble for the appropriate thing to say. The lawn service came this morning. Since I was home, I could pay them the money I owed them for the previous several times they groomed my greenery while I was MIA. Henry doesn't like to pick up the ball as much when we fetch after a mowing. The freshly cut grass tickles his nose. My mother and sister drove in late last night for a short visit. I took them to Sweet Bella for lunch and it was packed. Ironically, one of the only tables open was the spot EL and I sat the first time we ate there together. We sat there and the food was as tasty as always. We split an order of Bella Cheesecake (EL's favorite dish they prepare) in light of it being our anniversary day. After lunch, before returning to work, we stopped at the grocery to pick up a few items for dinner. I'm going to grill since the weather is so nice out. I'm a little tired and feel like a nap. Undoubtedly it is due to dealing with stuff somewhere inside me, but on the surface I'm hanging in there... for the most part. It's nice to have family around. I have received a lot of thoughtful emails today from people that don't normally keep in touch with me. I'm thankful and appreciative to have such good people in my life... even if they are tangential friends or more distant than I'd like them to be. It is humbling. As the day winds down, I feel like the whirlwind in my head is still steaming flank. I'm looking forward to a deep glass of red wine and the feeling of my bare toes on the various textures found following work-shoe removal. The sound of birds in my yard over the distant hum of a neighborhood lawnmower or children laughing down the street beats an abrasive phone ringer and the pitter patter of computer keys sending an over-abundance of email into cyberspace any day. There is a life for me somewhere between this pain, that happiness, and my unknown future. I hope.