Lucas Camilo

Burke’s gone this weekend. Like he wrote last month, being on solo Lucas parent duty can be really tiring. Given the challenges, I’m feeling so grateful for all the things have made these four days run smoothly. Dare I even say it — relatively easy. Here’s an incomplete list.

Gratitude to Dan and Dana and Emi, who all eagerly stepped forward when I asked for help. Their help (or just willingness to be on call) meant I took Lucas out to a book event last night – a reading with editors and contributors to “Don’t Leave Your Friends Behind” anthology. I loved not just getting to the event with Lucas, but being able to listen to the readings almost all the way through. It felt luxurious for my brain.

Gratitude to caring nurses and other home health workers.

Gratitude for Lucas sleeping through the night two nights in a row.

Gratitude to Michael (aka Papa), for doing endless phonics flashcards with Lucas. And then for calmly putting out the fire I set in the oven last night when I forgot about the tortillas I was “flash” heating. And then for cleaning up my mess, and laughing at me just a little.

Gratitude to air travel, which makes it possible for friends who are now far away to come and visit.

Gratitude for the beautiful, crisp, sunny days.

Gratitude to the heron that sat so peacefully on the dock for the 20 minutes we sat and watched, counting the boats and watching the deep blue lake water. When Lucas spotted the bird he shouted out “It’s so nice to see you heron,” which is something we often say to animals on our walk. And then, out of the blue, he shouted out, “I love you heron!”

Gratitude for the ability to spend time apart. Burke and I spend so much time together, it surprises me when I miss him after just a day or two apart. And yet I do.