Thursday, July 2, 2026

      It is starting, the sounds of explosions in the middle of the night.  I assume fourth of July fireworks, guys sneaking around the high school grounds. The excitement of doing something daring and illegal. Relieve the boredom of foggy cold summer days. I turn over and go back to sleep.

     But Monterey is a military town.  What would it be like to be bombed by some country rightly angry at us.  Not so farfetched. Or maybe earth quakes.  Last year I was worried about forest fires. Each year a new fear. Maybe next year will be the year of floods. And still, I am able to sleep at night.

     I place an order at Instacart for foods I want.  My roommate is creating an eight foot banner on the floor, for anti ICE protest later in the day. I give her advice about safety.  She smiles and laughs.  I want a picture of the car she is riding in. I want to be able to find her if she is lost. She arrives home safely in the evening, too tired to tell me stories of her adventure.

     The front yard is dominated by blue jays and mourning doves. The garden is thriving.  Now when I walk outside, I dodge low hanging branches and piles of debris.  Lots of wind lately.  I continue to read HILL by Harriet Clark.  It is slow reading and just gets better and better.  I will be sorry when I finish it.