Shelter in Place

Our one truly deciduous tree (the lilac) is slowly dropping its leaves into the fern below even as next spring’s buds begin to swell on its branches: winter, for what it’s worth, in San Francisco.

We are in a season of in-betweens that, hopefully, will not last too long - Thanksgiving to Christmas, election to inauguration, vaccine testing to delivery and the freedom that implies. I’m trying to stay patient even as I relish the idea that there are still things we can look forward to. Today I received a package in the mail. It’s from my son and daughter-in-law - an advent box of presents to be opened one by one and day by day. This is how we wait for the next chapter - one day at a time, and with the help of those we love.