This is the first morning in over four months I’ve sat here at my desk without a to-do list that rolls out the door, a packed suitcase, or a book launch event (mine, and others’). Yes, the final bosaue 4 proof will arrive today or tomorrow. Yes, one of my critique groups meets this afternoon. Yes, the manuscripts I’m editing are still on my desktop. And yes, my own novel-in-progress, Dear Lucia, is waiting for its turn. But for this one brief moment, I can breathe. Just breathe.

Breathe in: All who’ve come up to me, emailed, messaged, Facebooked, tweeted (etc.) to tell me how much they love Dissonance, and how happy they are that SFWP has reissued the book. All who’ve passed the book on to others. All who’ve bought copies for friends and family. All who’ve recommended it to their book groups.

Breathe out: A miscommunication that led me to believe I’d be returning to the Taos Writers Conference next summer. I won’t.

Breathe in: Time with Bob, in both Austin and Washington, a rare and valuable commodity.

Breathe out: Poor old Mr. Bones’ dementia, which means after each sentence, I must get up & either let him out or let him in (those who ask if I can’t simply ignore him have never heard Mr. Bones’ bark).

Breathe in: This endless gorgeous fall—the deep blue sky, the spectacle of leaves, the voices of the cranes overhead, the tomatoes that just keep coming and the roses that continue to bloom (including this one, on my desk now).

Breathe out: The petty demands, the aches and pains, the endless maintenance of an old house, the food shopping, the laundry, the cleaning…

Breathe in: My friends, my family, my dogs, my beautiful home in the peaceful far North Valley of Albuquerque, the bosque, the river. My life.

Thank you. Namaste.