Shelter in Place , San Francisco, California, September 1, 2020

Watering the garden today (yes, I'm up and mobile!) I was reminded how delightful it is when flowers like this fuchsia are enhanced by their surroundings. ‘Spindly,’ is how I’d describe the bush that yields its delicate, dancing flowers only here and there. ‘Unruly’ is what I’d call the prickly asparagus fern I planted just below. But when the fern’s skeletal green tendrils crawl up and grasp the fuchsia's limbs, they provide for my private pleasure a small miracle of contrast, the perfect combination.

Such is my good fortune, as well, with the company I keep as this isolation wears on. Where would I be without my friend, my partner, who keeps me grounded and complements my moods? On most days, we manage a quiet companionship that gets us through the day. And when one of us despairs, the other seems to rally. We are, I'm glad to say, the perfect combination.