The kids sleep in most days, a habit that we’ll have to break next week. For now, they sleep and I sit on the couch sipping coffee and doing morning things: a bit of writing and reading and sitting in silence. Once they get up, all bets are off. There’s too much talking. My nervous system feels overloaded. The silence is never, ever long enough. I don’t miss the daily rush, but I miss being alone. Wind swooshes the trees, branches bobbing like buoys at sea. We could all fly away, I think, …
lyric essay
September 1
This September morning starts slowly. The overnight air is cooler, and a breeze blows through the windows, open at last. Summer is waning and it’s likely we’ll shut everything up and turn on the air conditioning again. But for now, we have fresh air. September first. I decide to wear a dress for the first time since January. There’s been no reason. I spend most of my mornings in sweatpants and change my clothes, reluctantly, before taking a midday nap. A long time ago, I promised myself I …