Thursday, January 8, 2026

     In the 1040’s my sister and I would lie in our twin beds listening to the radio serials. Our favorite show was the scary THE SHADOW. “The shadow knows.” I aspired to become the special effects expert on a drama radio show. This morning, I practice making all those story sounds. using my metal spoon, taping all the surfaces I can reach.

     Cold, cold, morning. I turn on the heater and put on my warmest clothes. The sun is warming the kitchen, but in my bedroom the cold is hard to dissipate.

     In the nonfiction book, CALIFORNIA AGAINST THE SEA, there is a chapter focused on the small coastal town, Marina, and their successful response to the rising sea levels and climate change. Marina is the face of the future. Yea Marina.

     I am now reading Arundhati Roy’s memoir MOTHER MARY COMES TO ME. She is such a good writer. I still feel over whelmed by the unread books waiting for my attention. The second season of THE PITT starts tonight. One episode a week for 15 weeks. I loved the first season. I have also started watching episodes of THE CLOSER, a long running detective series from a decade ago.

 

Wednesday, January 7, 2026  

     At noon I walk on the deck.  Rain hasn’t started. Crows calling out danger for a few minutes. Chainsaws working and of course traffic noise. Then sirens in the neighborhood. Two sounds, a long piercing sound and short fast alerts.  No signs of smoke. I make up stories before I give up.  I just don’t know. Later Facebook reports fallen pine trees.

     The house cleaners arrive, and change the beds, and vacuumed and clean the house. I stay out of their way. I am so grateful for their help.

     Big puddles outside in the parking area. Water moves over the street from higher ground. Weather is everywhere.

     Mostly the house is quiet.  I put away kitchen clutter, not all of it but some clutter. I spend more time reading, finishing up some books that I had started. I need to go to pharmacy for more vaccinations. I got the latest flu vaccine but not the others. I do not understand why it is such a challenge to just go to the pharmacy. I seldom leave my home.

 

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

     I stay in my bedroom listening to the family pack up their suitcases and establish order back in the house. They have a noon flight back to New York. They leave the house in better condition then before. Two healthy young men and two charming talented middle aged women. We hug, take pictures, say good by and they are off. I walk through the house. Nothing of theirs is left behind. They are gone and the house is quiet.  My daughter roommate and I check in with each other and then spend most of the day in silence as we adjust to our quiet life.

     Garbage day. The tall young man drags my over full bins to the curb before getting into the rental car. Can’t forget garbage day even during the good by rituals. Garbage can’t wait. Garbage doesn’t care.

     My writing friend comes at 4 and we decide to just talk. We catch up with stories of current family life. I start a fire in the fireplace that peters out before it really catches.

     I finish reading NEXT OF KIN, a memoir by Gabrielle Hamilton. A powerful writer about her family and growing up and growing old. Lots of it is unsettling as I think back to my childhood and my times as a parent. No escape from that clutching feeling that we may not have understood what was actually going on.