We'll keep walkin' on the sunny side

And we won't stop dancin' 'til we die

In October we took the baby and the old dog on a road trip to Maine. I love New England. The leaves were gorgeous but the news was bad. I felt inspired by rusty water towers along the great lakes. We stopped in upstate New York to meet up with my best friend and her baby, who is the same age as mine. We stayed in an cabin near a river with a dead muscle car out front. I hiked with the old blind dog, using my voice to help him navigate.

I softened my stance on polyester and nylon. A thrifted pair of hiking pants convinced me that synthetic fabrics can be wonderful depending on context.

I’m watching Gilmore Girls for the first time wondering why I haven’t before. Season 1 ends with a PJ Harvey song and Jess gets Distillers tickets in season 3. Both favorites of mine since junior high. I’m always discovering good things 15 years late. I’m drinking coffee at night like Lorelai and dressing in puffer vests like Luke.

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We have a morning routine. Her dad usually wakes up with her, puts on her hearing aids and a record or the radio. She stands in front of the phonograph absorbing the sound of Glen Campbell and Willie Nelson. She reaches the piano keys and marvels at the vibration.